
Glass //<£ /. 

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THE 

LIFE and TIMES 

OF 

COL. JOHN SIEGFRIED 

BY 

REV. JOHN BAER STOUDT 



Prepared at the request of the Col. John Siegfried Memorial 
Committee and issued in connection with the unveiling of the 
Monument on the Old Mennonite Cemetery on West Twenty- 
First Street, Memorial Day, May 30, 1 9 1 4 : : : 



19 14 

THE CEMENT NEWS PRINT 

NORTHAMPTON, PA. 






5&Q J 






Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2010 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/lifetimesofcoljoOOstou 



s. 



INTRODUCTION 



Presenting this volume without referring to the occasion 
which made it possible, would be short of ingratitude. The eon- 
tents, bearing on interesting subjects, appeal to all of us. Surely 
the compilation of so much historical data was not anticipated 
save by the author, whose search for things historical brought 
him information of real value and prompted the preparation of 
articles for publication in The Cement News in 1912 and 1913. 
These articles attracted attention and created interest until it 
ripened into the proposition to erect a tablet to the memory of 
Col. John Siegfried. The co-operation of the patriotic societies 
in the borough was sought and obtained and joint efforts and 
arrangements moulded the sentiment of the community into a 
movement to not only erect the tablet but to celebrate the occa- 
sion as well. This celebration is now at hand — Memorial Day — 
and a volume of this nature is truly as much a part of the 
celebration as personal participation in the exercises — for these 
pages will speak to future generations and remind them of the 
act of our devotion to Revolutionary and Colonial heroes, in a 
measure that otherwise would be impossible. 

This introduction can add nothing to the value of this volume 
but it affords an opportunity to express appreciation to the 
author for his untiring efforts in presenting ' ' The Life and Times 
of Col. John Siegfried" in such an interesting manner. The 
community owes him a debt of gratitude for his labors and 
commends him for this work of devotion to the task which he 
assumed with full knowledge of the labor it entailed. 

E. J. ROYER. 

Northampton, Pa., May 20, 1914. 



GENERAL COMMITTEE 



Rev. John Baer Stoudt, chairman; E. J. Royer, secretary; 
E. C. Nagle, treasurer ; H. A. Miller, representing the borough at 
large; W. C. Myers, Jacob Howell and H. F. Schreiber, repre- 
senting Capt. Theo. H. Howell Camp, No. 48, Sons of Veterans ; 
T. J. Rupp, H. H. Fetterman and T. E. Hartzell, representing 
Atlas Council, No. 963, Fraternal Patriotic Americans; Mrs. 
Ross G-. Lauer, Mrs. Jacob Howell and Mrs. H. S. Knecht, repre- 
senting Riverside Council, No. 77, Daughters of America ; S. W. 
Borger, representing the Northampton Board of Education, and 
Harvey Silfies, representing Town Council. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



The committee hereby acknowledges the courtesy of W. J. Heller for 
the use of the plates of Lappowinzo, the South Side Easton, the Old Chain 
Bridge; of Bev. N. B. Grubb, for the plates of the Allen Township Menno- 
nite Church and Costumes of the Mennonites; to The Allen Trust Company 
for the use of the plate of William Allen; to Eeynold Leibenguth for the 
plates of the headstones of Col. John Siegfried, Jacob Baer and Jane 
Eosbrugh, Fort Ealston, the Home of Ex-Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker, and 
to Charles E. Eoberts, Capt. Theo. H. Howell and Miss Minnie Laubach for 
data furnished. 






THE DELAWARE INDIANS 



The Delaware or Lenni Lenape Indians were the original 
owners of the soil of Pennsylvania. According to their own 
traditions their forefathers many, many moons ago lived in the 
■far mountainous western country where, upon being seized by a 
mighty impulse they determined to migrate toward the rising of 
the sun. After many journeys they finally reached the banks of 
the Namaesi Sipu, "the father of waters (the Mississippi river), 
where they were met and opposed by the Alligewi, whom they 
finally defeated and drove southward. 

They pushed eastward until they reached the banks of the 
Delaware river and made the hills and valleys of its tributaries 
the place of their abode. 

' ' Long before our great grandfathers, 

Heard the story I now tell you, 

We were once a nation great, 

Who from out the west of north came, 

Through a land of ice and snow. 

Came unto the great fish river, 

Where fierce warriors there did meet us 

And quite vainly did oppose us, 

In the course we did pursue, 

When at last we settled firmly, 

In a country rich with game. ' ' 

The Delaware Indians were divided into three sub-tribes : 
(1) the Minsi, "the people of the stony country," lived north of 
the Lehigh river; (2) the Unami, "the people down the river," 
lived south of the Lehigh river and the South mountains ; (3) the 
Unalachtigo, "the people living near the ocean," lived down 
along the Delaware Bay and had their principal seat on the site 
of the city of Wilmington, Delaware. 

They lived in small groups and many of their villages were 
but temporary places of abode, especially during the fishing and 
hunting seasons. They, however, did not entirely depend for 
their subsistance upon the "chase and the catch," but in their 
more fixed places of abode practiced the peaceful art of hus- 
bandry, raising in particular corn, tobacco, vegetables and in 



some instances cultivated fruit. It is said that when the Scotch- 
Irish first came to Allen township they found apple trees, near 
the site of Weaversville, bearing fruit. These no doubt belonged 
to the more "permanent Indian town of Hokendauqua, which 
was situated not far from the mouth of the creek, bearing the 
same name and flowing through the borough of Northampton. 
The face in the rock on the southeast side of the Main 
street bridge across the creek, no doubt, is the work of some 
Indian and perhaps marks the height of the water during some 
freshet. 




"I have traveled o'er the country that once was our domain, 
Saw the rivers and the mountains, the broad and fertile plain, 
Where the Indian chased the buffalo, the antelope and deer, 
"When the smoke from Indian wigwams arose from far and near ; 
Saw the lovely Delaware, where our council fire would burn, 
And all the tribes and warriors would gather there to learn 
The wise teachings of our chieftains and their traditions old, 
And to tell it to their children as to them it had been told. ' ' 
Richard C. Adams, a lineal descendant of the Delawares. 



THE INDIAN VILLAGE OF HOKENDAUQUA 



The beautiful meadow in front of the home of our fellow 
townsman, John Smith, and the busy scene of the Atlas Portland 
Cement mills were once the site of a quiet and peaceful Indian 
village or plantation of Hockyondocquay (Hokendauqua). This 

6 



village was at the time of the ' ' Walking Purchase, ' ' the home of 
the famous orator and "honest old Indian," Chief Lappowinzo, 
and of Tisheohan, the chief "who never blackened his face." 
Combush, one of the participants in the walk to determine 
the purchase left the party at the end of the first day's 
walk and attended a canticoy here. The representatives of the 
Penn's lodged for the night in the woods near the present site of 
Howertown from which place they heard the shoutings of the 
Indians in their wierd dances. The next morning brought dull 
and rainy weather. The Indians, not appearing, Benjamin East- 
burn, Nicholas Scull, and another person, went early in the 
morning to the Indian town where Lappowinzo and Tisheohan 
lived, and desired Lappowinzo to send some other Indians to ac- 
company them, when he replied that they had got "all the best 
of the land and they might go to the devil for the bad and that 
he would send no Indians with them." However, Combush re- 
turned with two other Indians, and accompanied them for about 
ten miles, when, the rain increasing, he said he would proceed no 
farther. 

"On the return" (from the walk), relates Thomas Furniss, 
"we came through this Indian town (Hockyondocquay) or plan- 
tation, Timothy Smith and myself riding forty yards, more or 
less, before the company ; and as we approached within about one 
hundred and fifty paces of the town, the woods being open, we 




saw an Indian take a gun in his hand, and advancing towards us 
some distance, placed himself behind a log that laid by our 
way. I think Smith was surprised, as I well remember I was 
through a consciousness that the Indians were dissatisfied with 



the walk, a thing the whole company seemed to be sensible of; 
and upon the way in our return home frequently expressed them- 
selves to that purpose. ' ' 

Edward Marshall states in his testimony "that about eight 
weeks after the performing of the walk, happened to be in com- 
pany with the Indian Chief Lappawinzo at the Indian town 
Hockyondocquay, with Tishecunk (Tishcahon) and some other 
Indians. He then heard Lappawinzo say that they were dissatis- 
fied with the walk. ' ' 

Preston Berger, of this place, who possesses many fine speci- 
mens of Indian workmanship, told the writer how as a young 
man he used to find implements on the site of this village. It 
was this clue that led finally to the identification of this village 
with that of Hockyondocquay, referred to in our Colonial annals. 



LAPPOWINZO 



At the treaty meeting at Pennsburg, May 9, 1735, at which 
John and Thomas Penn were present, this chief distinguished 
himself as the principal orator. On this occasion Nutimus, Tish- 
cohan, Lesbeconk and others were present. Another meeting 
was agreed upon in Philadelphia, which was accordingly held on 
the 24th and 25th of August, 1737, in the presence of Thomas 
Penn, and on the latter day Lappowinzo, Manawhyhickon, Tish- 
cohan and Nutimus signed the release for the Walking Purchase, 
witnessed by fourteen whites and twelve Indians. Barefoot 
Brinston acted as interpreter. 

The portraits of Lappowinzo and Tishcohan were painted by 
order of John Penn during the Pennsbury meeting by Hessel- 
ius, a Swedish artist. Lappowinzo is represented as a stout In- 
dian of about forty years of age. A few black marks are painted 
on his forehead and cheeks. His hair is long and brought to the 
back part of his head, with a blue blanket thrown around him 
and a pouch on his breast fastened to his neck. 

From Edward Marshall's testimony, we learn that on the 
night of the first day's Walk they lodged near an Indian town 
called Hockyondocquay, and that early next morning Nicholas 
Scull, Benjamin Eastburn and another person went to said settle- 

8 




LAPPOWINZO 

One of the only two Colonial Indian Chiefs whose portraits are known to have been painted 



nient and spoke with Lappowinzo, who lived there, to send some 
other Indians to accompany the walkers for the remaining 
distance, when he replied "that they had got all the best of the 
land and they might go to the Devil for the bad and that he 
would send no Indians with them." He further stated that 
about eight weeks after the Walk he was again at the Indian town 
when the same chief said that, "they were dissatisfied with 
the Walk, and that they would go down to Philadelphia the next 
May with every one a buckskin to repay the proprietor for 
what they had received from him and take their land again." 
should not go the course fixed on by the proprietors, but should 
have gone along the Delaware, or by the nearest Indian path, 
as the proper direction. Alexander Brown, in his evidence, 
corroborated the foregoing. 

It was to Lappowinzo that Moses Marshall had reference in 
his reminiscences taken down by John Watson, Jr., in a visit 
in 1822, in which he relates how ' ' An old Indian said ' no set down 
to smoke, no shoot squirrel, but lun, lun, lun all day long. ' ' ' By 
this it would appear he had been pretty well up in years. Hecke- 
welder says that his name signifies going away to gather food. He 
appears to have been chiefly instrumental in the selection of John 
Combush, Neepaheilomon alias Joe Tuneam, who could speak 
English, and his brother-in-law, Tom, the three young men ap- 
pointed on the side of the Indians to be present as deputies to see 
that the Walk was fairly performed. James LeTort, an Indian 
trader, mentions dealings with Lappowinzo in 1704, if not some- 
what earlier. James Logan, in 1741, mentions him "as an honest 
old Indian. ' ' 



TISHCOHAN 

William Allen, one of the owners of Durham Iron Works, 
while on his visits there, personally became acquainted with 
"Tishecunk," who was reputed to be an "honest, upright man," 
and with "Nutimus had always been esteemed to be the chief 
original owners of the land in and about the Forks of Delaware 
and adjacent lands above Tohicon." 

By appointment, Tishcohan and Nutimus, in October, 1734, 

9 



had met John and Thomas Penn at Durham in relation to a treaty 
and sale of lands, and also in May, 1735, at Pennsbury, but no 
particular business was accomplished, except to have the Trial 
Walk secretly made in order to have things in readiness for the 
signing of the release for the Walking Purchase, which was duly 
concluded in Philadelphia in the presence of Thomas Penn, 
William Allen, James Logan and others, August 25, 1737, and 
to which Tishcohan, Nutimus and two other Delaware chiefs 
affixed their marks. From the testimony of Ephraim Goodwin, 
who was present at the Walk, we learn that Tishcohan was then 
an aged man, and lived at the Indian village called Hocken- 
docqua, near which the walkers and company stayed over night 
on their first day's journey. 

Like nearly all Indian names, it has been variously spelled or 
called, as Teshakomen, Tiscoquam and Captain John Tishekunk, 
perhaps according to the fancy of the several writers. In this 
portrait, which is nearly life size, he is represented with a 
Roman nose, a large mouth and several deep wrinkles reaching 
nearly across his forehead. He appears of a stout, muscular 
frame, about forty-five or fifty years of age, and what is singular 
for an Indian, a bunch of hair is growing from his under lip and 
chin. He has a blue blanket around him, and a squirrel skin 
pouch hanging on his breast in which there is a plaster of Paris 
pipe, thus proving it to be his tobacco pouch and that he was a 
consumer of "the weed." His hair is so long as to be gathered 
together on the back of his head. 

According to Heckewelder, Tishcohan means in the Delaware 
language "He who never blackens himself." In referring to 
the portrait, we find the truth of this definition. For there is an 
absence of daubs of paint with which many of the Indians were 
in the habit of disfiguring themselves. Tishcohan seems to have 
moved to the West, and was met by Frederick Post on his first 
missionary journey to the Indians on the Ohio river in July, 
1758. 



THE WALKING PURCHASE 



' ' The Walking Purchase, according to Edward Marshall, a participant, 
has not heretofore been published, and we shall therefore now present it as 

10 



copied from the original document. We regret to say that owing to certain 
parts of it having become either purposely defaced, or obliterated through 
time, we are obliged to make a slight abridgement, which we suppose does 
not exceed one-sixteenth part of the whole. We have no doubt that, par- 
ticularly near its beginning, some important information has thus become 
lost." 

' ' The examination of Edward Marshall of Mount Bethel township, 
Northampton county, husbandman, aged forty-two years, taken the 
first day of March, 1757, who being of the people called Quakers, on his 
solemn affirmation accordingly saith: that on the twelfth day of Sep- 
tember in the year 1737, as this affirmant believes, he was employed 
by Timothy Smith pursuant to a purchase and began the said walk at 
six o 'clock in the morning from a Chestnut tree in the line of John 
Chapman in Wrightstown, Bucks county: that they kept the great 
Durham road from Wrightstown which they were directed to go, about 
north northwest and continued walking by the said great road to 
Gallows Hill, and from thence by a lesser road till twelve o'clock noon 
and then halted at the Widow Wilson's plantation on a branch of 
Scook 's creek in order to dine and stayed there fifteen minutes, and then 
set off again, continuing about the same course by an old beaten Indian 
path, and crossing Saucon and the Lehigh, where Bethlehem now 
stands; continued the walk by the same old Indian path till fifteen 
minutes past six o'clock in the evening, when they halted near an 
Indian town called Hockyondocqna and there stayed all night: saith 
that the reason of their continuing their walk fifteen minutes after 
six up in their halting at noon as aforesaid. The next morning some 
of the company 's horses having strayed away, they went about two 
hours in looking for them, and then returned to the station where they 
had fixt and left the staves in the evening before. They began the 
walk again, without any Indians with them, at eight o'clock, from 
where they left off and continued it by the said old Indian path for 
about one hour, until they came to Pokopoghcunck, then continued 
their walk through the woods north northwest by a compass which this 
affirmant then carried in his hand, but had not used before; and pur- 
suing that course all the time and the said Yates having given out 
and stayed at Tobyhanna creek, this affirmant continued the walk in 
company with Alexander Brown, who carried the watch, and Enoch 
Pearson, being both on horses, until two o'clock in the afternoon and 
then stopped, in order to close and determine said walk on the north 
side of Pokono Mountain, where they marked five Chestnut oaks by 
putting stones in the forks of them. This affirmant saith that the reason 
of his continuing to walk two hours after twelve o'clock noon was to 
make up for the same time which they had lost in the morning seeking 
the strayed horses as aforesaid. That the said affirmant did not run all 
of said time of going said eighteen hours' walk from beginning to the 
end thereof. The affirmant being asked why the Indians who were with 
them the first day did not continue the second half day, replied that the 

11 



Indians who had set out with them in the morning of the first half day 
left them the next morning. Nicholas Scull, Benjamin Eastburn, and 
another person whose name he has forgotten, went early the next 
morning to the Indian town half a mile distant, where the Delaware 
chief Lappawinso then lived, to desire he would send some other Indians 
to accompany the walkers for the rest of the walk, but they returned 
with the following answer from the said chief, which was that the 
said walkers had got all the best of the land and that they might go to 
the Devil for the bad, and that he would send no Indians with them. 
Being further asked if he had ever heard any of the Indians express 
any uneasiness about the said walk, saith that about eight weeks after 
performing said walk he happened to be in company with Lappawinso 
at the said Indian town of Hockyondocqua with Tishacunch and some 
other Indians, being the first time he had seen them after said walk, 
he then heard the said Lappawinso say that they were dissatisfied with 
the said walk and that they would go down to Philadelphia next May 
with every one a buckskin to repay the Proprietor for what they had 
received from him and take their land again, and complained that the 
said walk was not fairly performed nor the courses run as they should 
have been. That he has heard said Lappawinso and other Delaware 
Indians frequently say that the said walk should not go the course 
agreed on between them, the Indians and the Proprietors, for that they 
should have gone along the courses of the Delaware. This affirmant 
further saith, that the place where the said walk ended at the said 
Five Chestnut Oaks as aforesaid was as he believes twenty miles or 
thereabouts beyond or to the northward of the Kittatinny Hills. 

Subscribed and affirmed to by Edward Marshall, 2d March, 1757, 
before William Denny. 

The time set for the walk was September 12th, but it was postponed 
until the 19th, which accounts for the discrepancy in dates. — W. J. Buck in 
Walking Purchase. 



THE INDIAN BURIAL GROUND 



Where the Lehigh & Susquehanna railroad, now the Central 
Railroad of New Jersey, was built in 1866, workingmen discov- 
ered an Indian burial place. It is said that toward the close of 
the month of August, about two thousand feet above the Siegfried 
depot, in digging, they came upon a skeleton, and that a few days 
later several more were unearthed, and that on or about Septem- 
ber first, quite a number more, nineteen all told, were uncovered. 

William Miller, Jr., who at the time was in the employ of the 
railway company, in a letter dated Siegfried's Bridge, Nov. 5, 
1879, relates how one of the graves, under an old apple tree, was 

12 



much larger and the skeleton of unusual size, which led them 
to believe that they had unearthed the remains of a chief, and 
that they were further strengthened in this belief by the fact 
that they found along with the bones and ashes a large number of 
pearls, mostly white, and that about two dozen of them, some of 
which were blue in color, were the size of sour cherries. Also that 
they found in this same grave a copper coin on which only the 
date (1724) was legible, a pipe, a tomahawk, arrow heads 
and other implements of war. He further states that in each of 
the nineteen graves a pipe of white clay, several pearls and a 
number of arrow heads were found. Their bones were not rein- 
terred because upon being exposed to the air they soon crumbled. 

This in all probability was the burial place for the Indian 
village of Hokendauqua, for not infrequently were Indian burial 
places located several miles away from the villages. 




The above is a reproduction (2-3 size) of a fine specimen of an Indian 
Arrow Head, found in digging for the foundation for the monument 

13 



THE INDIAN MASSACRE OF 1763 



On October 8th, 1763, just one hundred and fifty years 
ago, Allen and Whitehall townships were the scene of a brutal 
Indian massacre. The following quotation (from an account of 
the Indian Nations, p. 332, by Rev. Heckwelder, for many years 
a missionary to the Indians) clearly shows that the savages were 
provoked to this murderous deed by the inhuman treatment af- 
forded them by some of the settlers. But as it often happens, 
innocent parties had to pay dearly for the folly of a few. 

"In the summer of the year 1763, some friendly Indians from a 
distant place came to Bethlehem to dispose of their peltry for manu- 
factured goods and necessary implements of husbandry. Eeturning 
home well satisfied, they put up the first night at a tavern, eight miles 
distant from Bethlehem. The landlord not being at home, his wife took 
the liberty of encouraging the people who frequented her house for 
the sake of drinking, to abuse those Indians, adding, 'that she would 
freely give a gallon of rum to any one of them that would kill one of 
these black devils. ' Other white people from the neighborhood came in 
during the night, who also drank freely, made a great deal of noise, 
and increased the fears of those poor Indians, who, — for the greatest part 
understood English, — could not but suspect something bad was intended 
against their persons. They were, however, not otherwise disturbed; 
but in the morning, when, after a restless night, they were preparing 
to set off, they found themselves robbed of some of the most valuable 
articles they had purchased, and on mentioning this to a man who 
appeared to be the bar-keeper, they were ordered to leave the house. 
Not being willing to lose so much property, they retired to some distance 
into the woods, when, some of them remaining with what was left them, 
the others returned to Bethlehem and lodged their complaint with a 
justice of the peace. The magistrate gave them a letter to the landlord, 
pressing him without delay to restore to the Indians the goods that 
had been taken from them. But, behold! when they delivered that 
letter to the people of the inn, they were told in answer, that if they 
set any value on their lives they must make off with themselves im- 
mediately. They well understood that they had no other alternative and 
prudently departed without having received back any of their goods. 
Arrived at Nescopeck, on the Susquehanna, they fell in with other 
Delaware Indians, who had been treated much in the same manner, one 
of them having his rifle stolen from him. Here the two parties agreed 
to take revenge in their own way for those insults and robberies for 
which they could obtain no redress, and this they determined to do as 
f-oon as war should be again declared by their nation against the 
English." 

14 



In another place, about fourteen miles distant from Sten- 
ton's, another outrage was committed, of which the following 
account is given in Loskiel's History of the Missions of the In- 
dians in America : 

"In August, 1763, Zachary and his wife, who had left the congre- 
gation in Wechquetank (where they had belonged, but left some time 
previous), came on a visit, and did all in their power to disquiet the 
minds of the brethren respecting the intentions of the white people. 
A woman called Zippora was persuaded to follow them. On their 
return they stayed at the Buchkabuchka over night, where Captain Wet- 
terholt lay with a company of soldiers and went unconcerned to sleep 
in a hayloft. But in the night they were surprised by the soldiers. 
Zippora was thrown down upon the threshing-floor and killed; Zachary 
escaped out of the house, but was pursued, and with his wife and little 
child, put to the sword, although the mother begged for their lives upon 
her knees. ' ' 

These were friendly Indians, who were on their way from 
Shamokin to Bethlehem. Jacob Warner, a soldier in Nicholaus 
Wetterholt's company, made the following statement, September 
9th: — that he and Dodge were searching for a lost gun, when, 
about two miles above Fort Allen (Weissport), they saw three 
Indians painted black. Dodge fired upon them and killed one; 
Warner also fired upon them, and thinks he wounded another ; 
but two escaped ; and, on the 24th, Dodge sent Warner with the 
scalp to a person in Philadelphia, who gave him eight dollars for 
it. These were also friendly Indians. 

On the 7th of October, Captain Jacob Wetterholt, with a 
few soldiers from Bethlehem, were on their way to Fort Allen. 
They arrived in the evening and lodged at the house of John 
Stenton, who kept a store and tavern, in the then Irish settle- 
ment, about a mile north of Howertown in Allen township, North- 
ampton County. Against this house the Indians burned with 
revenge, on account of injuries received there. 

At daybreak on Saturday morning, October 8, 1763, as the 
Indians were making their way stealthily towards Stenton 's 
Tavern, they met Mrs. James Horner, who was on her way to a 
neighboring house ' ' to borrow fire, ' ' and tomahawked her. Her 



15 




husband later found the body and carried it to the settlement 
meeting house (Presbyterian) where he sat alone with the 
corpse of his wife the whole night. The following day her body 
was interred on the adjoining cemetery. A tombstone containing 
the following epitaph marks the resting place of her ashes : 

"In memory of Jane, wife of James Horner, who suffered 
death by the hands of the savage Indians, October Eighth, 
Seventeen Hundred and Sixty-three, aged fifty years. ' ' 

The Indians approached the house, which was unguarded, 
unperceived and undiscovered, during the night, and when the 
door was opened before day, on the morning of the memorable 
8th of October, by the servant of Captain Wetterholt, he was 
shot at and instantly killed. Captain Wetterholt and Sergeant 
McGuire were also shot at and dangerously wounded. John 
Stenton was shot dead. The wounded were taken to Bethlehem, 
where Captain Wetterholt died the next day. 

Lieutenant Dodge sent the following letter to Timothy 
Horsfield : 

' ' John Stentons, Oct. the 8, 1763. 

Mr. Horsfield, Sir, Pray send me help for all my men are killed 
But one, and Captn Wetterholt ij amost Dead, he is shot through the 
Body, for god sake send me help. 

These from me to serve my country and king so long as i live. 

Send me help or I am a Dead man 

this from me Ljnt Dodge 

Sargt mequire is shot through the body — 

Pray send up the Doctor for god sake." 




) 

Timothy Horsfield sent an express to Daniel Hunsicker, 
Lieutenant in Captain Jacob Wetterholt 's company, with the 
following letter : 

16 



* ' Bethlehem, Oct. 8, 1763. 
Sir: — This morning at about break of day a number of Indians at- 
tacked the inhabitants of Allen's Town (Allen Township); have killed 
several, and wounded many more. Your Captain who was here yester- 
day, lays at the house of John Stenton, at Allen's Town, wounded. 
Several of the soldiers have been killed. I send to Simon Heller, and 
request him to send a safe hand with it, that you may receive it as 
quick as possible. Now is the time for you and the men to exert your- 
selves in defence of the frontier, which I doubt not you will do. I 
expect to hear from you when you have any news of importance. Send 
one of your worst men: as it will be dangerous in the day time, send 
him in the night. The enclosed letter to Mr. Grube I desire you send 
as soon as possible. 

I am &c, 

TIMOTHY HORSFIELD. 
To LIEUTENANT HUNSICKEE, Lower Smithfield." 

A detailed account of the different murders was sent by- 
Timothy Horsfield, with a messenger, to the Governor, at Phila- 
delphia. It was published in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 
October 13th, 1763, printed by Benjamin Franklin : 

"On Sunday night last an express arrived from Northampton 
County, with the following melancholy account, viz: — That on Saturday 
morning, the 8th inst., the house of John Stenton, about eight miles 
from Bethlehem, was attacked by Indians, as follows: Captain Wetter- 
holt with a party belonging to Fort Allen, being at that house, and 
intending to set out early for the fort, ordered a servant to get his 
horse ready, who was immediately shot down by the enemy; upon which 
the Captain, going to the door, was also fired at, and mortally wounded ; 
that then a sergeant attempted to pull in the Captain and to shut the 
door, but he was likewise dangerously wounded, that the Lieutenant 
next advanced, when an Indian jumped upon the bodies of the two 
others and presented a pistol to his breast, which he put a little 
aside, and it went off over his shoulder, whereby he got the Indian out 
of the house and shut the door; that the Indians after this went round 
to a window, and as Stenton was getting out of bed shot him, but not 
dead, and he, breaking out of the house, ran about a mile, when he 
dropped and died; that his wife and two children ran down into the 
cellar, where they were shot at three times, but escaped; that Captain 
Wetterholt, finding himself growing very weak, crawled to a window, 
and shot an Indian dead, it was thought, as he was in the act of 
setting fire to the house with a match, and that upon this the other 
Indians carried him away with them and went off. Captain Wetter- 
holt died soon after." 



"In a letter from the same county, of the 10th instant, the num- 
ber killed is said to be twenty-three, besides a great many dangerously 

17 



wounded; that the inhabitants are in the utmost distress and con- 
fusion, flying from their places, some of them with hardly sufficient 
to cover themselves, and that it was to be feared there were many 
houses, &c, burned, and lives lost that were not then known. And by a 
gentleman from the same quarter we are informed, that it was re- 
ported, when he came away, that Jost's mill (Jost Dreisbaeh), about 
eleven miles from Bethlehem, was destroyed, and all the people that 
belonged to it, excepting a young man, are cut off. ' ' 

After the deplorable disaster at Stenton's house, the Indians 
plundered James Allen's house, a short distance after which they 
attacked Andrew Hazlet 's house, half a mile from Allen 's, where 
they shot and scalped a man. Hazlet attempted to fire on the 
Indians, but missed, and he was shot himself, which his wife, 
some distance off, saw. She ran off with two children, but was 
pursued and overtaken by the Indians, who caught and toma- 
hawked her and the children in a dreadful manner ; yet she and 
one of the children lived until four days after, and the other child 
recovered. Hazlet 's house was plundered. About a quarter of 
a mile from there, the Indians burned down Kratzer's house, 
probably after having plundered it. Then a party of Indians 
proceeded to a place on the Lehigh, a short distance above 
Siegfried 's Bridge, often referred to as " Indian Falls " or "In- 
dian Rapids, ' ' where twelve Indians were seen wading across the 
river by Ulrich Showalter, who was at that time working on the 
roof of a building. The site of which being considerably elevated 
above the river Lehigh, he had a good opportunity to count 
them. It is not known that they were seen by any one but 
Showalter, until they reached the farm of John Jacob Mickley, 
where they encountered three of his children, two boys and a girl, 
in a field under a chestnut tree, gathering chestnuts. The chil- 
dren 's ages were : Peter, eleven ; Henry, nine, and Barbary, 
seven ; who, on seeing the Indians, began to run away. The little 
girl was overtaken not far from the tree by an Indian, who 
knocked her down with a tomahawk. Henry had reached the 
fence, and, while in the act of climbing it, an Indian threw a 
tomahawk at his back, which, it is supposed, instantly killed him. 
Both of these children were scalped. The little girl, in an in- 
sensible state, lived until the following morning. Peter, having 
reached the woods, hid himself between two large trees which 
were standing near together, and, surrounded by brushwood, he 
remained quietly concealed there until he was sure that the 

18 



Indians had left. When he heard the screams of the Schneider 
family he knew that the Indians were at that place. He ran with 
all his might, by way of Adam Deshler's, to his brother, John 
Jacob Mickley, to whom he communicated the melancholy intelli- 
gence. He often said that the Mickley family owned at that time 
a very large and ferocious dog, which had a particular antipathy 
to Indians, and it was believed by the family, that it was owing 
to the dog the Indians did not make an attack on their house. 
John Jacob Mickley and Ulrich Flickinger, then on their way 
to Stenton's, being attracted by the screams of the Schneiders, 
hastened to the place and found the horribly mangled bodies of 
the dead and wounded, and the houses of Marks and Schneider in 
flames. The dead were buried on Schneider 's farm. 

The Mickley and Schneider families suffered innocently. 
Heckewelder says: "The Indians, after leaving this house 
(Stenton's), murdered by accident an innocent family, having 
mistaken the house they meant to attack, after which they re- 
turned to their homes." It is said that they had intended to 
massacre the Paul Balliet family. 

Extract of a letter from Bethlehem, October 9th, from the 
same paper: — 

' ' Early this morning came Nicholas Marks, of Whitehall Township, 
and brought the following account, viz: That yesterday, just after 
dinner, as he opened his door, he saw an Indian standing about two 
poles from the house, who endeavored to shoot at him; but, Marks 
shutting the door immediately, the fellow slipped into a cellar close 
to the house. After this, said Marks went out of the house, with 
his wife and an apprentice boy, in order to make their escape, and 
saw another Indian standing behind a tree, who tried to shoot at 
them, but his gun missed fire. They then saw the third Indian running 
through the orchard; upon which they made the best of their way, 
about two miles off, to Adam Deshler's place, where twenty men in 
arms were assembled, who went first to the house of John Jacob Mickley, 
where they found a boy and a girl lying dead, and the girl scalped. 
From thence they went to Hans Schneider's and said Marks' planta- 
tions, and found both houses on fire, and a horse tied to the bushes. 
They also found said Schneider, his wife and three children, dead in 
the field, the man and woman scalped; and, on going farther, they 
found two others wounded, one of whom was scalped. After this 
they returned with the two wounded girls to Adam Deshler's and saw a 
woman, Jacob Alleman's wife, with a child, lying dead in the road, and 
scalped. The number of Indians, they think, was about fifteen or 

19 



twenty. I cannot describe the deplorable condition this poor country 
is in; most of the inhabitants of Allen's Town and other places are 
fled from their inhabitants. Many are in Bethlehem, and other places of 
the Brethren, and others farther down the country. I cannot ascertain 
the number killed, but think.it exceeds twenty. The People of Nazareth, 
and other places belonging to the Brethren, have put themselves in the 
best posture of defence they can; they keep a strong watch every 
night, and hope, by the blessing of God, if they are attacked, to make a 
good stand." 




BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 



20 



THE IRISH SETTLEMENT 



The first permanent settlement in what is now Northampton 
County was made on the banks of the Hokendauqua (searching 
for land) and Catasauqua (the land is dry) creeks by a sturdy 
band of Scotch Irish, in 1728. The center of this settlement 
was at Weaversville. Their leader was James Craig, a kinsman 
of William Allen, hence it is sometimes called the ' ' Craig Settle- 
ment. ' ' Tradition has it that when the first settlers arrived one 
of them asked for a drink, whereupon an Indian squaw said, 
"Give me a gourd and I will fetch you some," and that she 
disappeared and soon returned with the gourd full of cool, 
sparkling water. This led to the discovery of the fine spring. 
The finding of this spring led them to select the place for their 
future homes. The names of the first settlers were : James Craig, 
Thomas Craig, Hugh Wilson and his three sons, Thomas, Sam- 
uel and Charles; Thomas Armstrong, Robert Gregg, James 
King, John McNair, John and Robert Walker, James Ralston, 
John Hays, Arthur Lattimore, James Horner and James Kerr. 




Several years later other families followed. They were all 
staunch Presbyterians, and soon after their arrival erected a 
small log church in the meadow of James Craig. Here that man 
of God, David Brainerd, occasionally preached to the settlers 
and also to the Indians. On October 9, 1744, he writes in his 
diary : 

"God was gracious to me and I was much assisted in preaching 
(in the settlement). I know not that ever God helped me to preach in 
a more close and distinguished manner, for the trial of men's state. 
Through the infinite goodness of God, I felt what I spoke and was 
enabled to treat the truth with uncommon clearness. ' ' 

It is recorded that after Brainerd preached, the people 
would retire to pray among the hazel bushes which grew all 
around, and then he would come and comfort them. Mrs. King, 

21 



whose husband, James, died in 1745, and who was the first whose 
remains were laid in the Settlement Cemetery, often with a child 
in her arms, would ride on horse back in company with others of 
the settlers twenty miles to Mount Bethel to hear Brainerd 
preach. 

In his journal he speaks of his labors and success among the 
Indians in the Forks as ' ' the wonders of God in the wilderness. ' ' 

Both in times of peace and in war, in matters of church and 
state, this litle group of pioneers wielded an influence all out of 
proportion according to their numbers. Gen. Thomas Craig was 
the first officer to offer his services to the Continental Congress 
of which James Ealston was a member. John Craig, Captain of 
the Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment of Light Dragoons, was pro- 
nounced by Gen. Washington the best horseman in the Con- 
tinental army. Practically every able-bodied male member of 
the congregation served in the cause of Independence. Dr. 
Mathew McHenry was Surgeon to the Provincial ship Mont- 
gomery. 

' ' The church of Allen Township is a monument of that grand 
work of our early days, which had such a vast influence upon the 
whole destiny of our Presbyterianism. The first great settlement of 
the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians was in the "Forks of the Delaware," 
and that region may therefore be considered as the old home of our 
church. 

Even such an important colony as that of the Cumberland Valley 
can look back to that locality as the birth of many of its most important 
families. Our own Presbytery of the Neshaminy received thence many 
of the founders of its churches. Throughout our whole church some of 
the greatest and best members trace the lines of their ancestry to that 




22 




FORT RALSTON 

A place of refuge during Indian Uprisings 



favored spot." Thomas Murphy, D. D., in the Presbytery of the Log. 
College, p. 374. 

They were, however, poor farmers as compared with their 
more industrious and frugal German neighbors, who gradually 
acquired their farms, and they drifted to the towns and cities 
and became merchants, professional men, etc. 



EARLY MAIL SERVICE 



The following paper establishes the fact that there was a 
post route from Philadelphia to Allen Township in 1775: "We, 
the subscribers, inhabitants of Allen township, in the county of 
Northampton, and Province of Pennsylvania, do promise each 
man for himself respectively, to pay the sums to our names 
affixed, unto the post rider for his trouble and pains in carrying 
each of our newspapers from Philadelphia to John Hay's, Jr., 
or Neigel Gray's in said township, once each week, for the space 
or term of twelve months, from the date hereof ; but if the said 
post-rider shall neglect to carry said papers and lodge them as 
aforesaid (extremity of weather excepted), he shall not be en- 
titled to this subscription. And for the confirmation of the 
above agreement, the said parties have hereunto set their hands, 
the second day of October, 1775. 



JNO. ROSBRUGH, 
JOHN RALSTON, 
JAMES ALLISON, 
WM. CARRUTHBRS, 



JOHN HAYS, 
JOHN WALKER, 
NEIGEL GRAY, 
ROBERT LATTIMORE." 




23 



THE WILSON MILL AND BLOCK HOUSE 



The oldest building in the borough of Northampton is the 
octagonal block house, standing amid the busy scenes of the 
Atlas Cement plant, on the western bank of the Hokendauqua 
creek, near Howell's mill, another of the town's old landmarks. 
This miniature fort is thought to have been erected by Thomas 
Wilson soon after his return to his home from Bethlehem, 
whitherto he had fled with his family in "the runaway" from 
Lehigh, Allen and neighboring townships, which followed the 
brutal massacre, by the French ally Indians, of eleven persons, 
at Gnaden Huetten on the Mahoning, now Weissport, November 
24, 1755. The following day couriers rode through the above 
named townships, ' ' announcing the savage massacre and warning 
all to abandon their homes and seek safety from the red butchers 
as best they could. ' ' The result was that practically the whole of 
western Northampton county was abandoned, all fleeing to Beth- 
lehem for safety. The provincial government immediately took 
steps to protect its frontier, by the erection of a chain of forts 
and block houses, and commissioned Col. Benjamin Franklin to 
take charge of the work. Before Franklin reached the scene 
several additional atrocities had been committed by the blood 
thirsty savages. 

On the 14th day of January, 1756, as Col. Franklin ap- 
proached Bethlehem, he found everything in a state of confusion. 
In a letter to Governor Morris he thus informs him of the state 
of affairs : 

' ' Governor Morris : 

Sir: — As we drew near this place, we met a number of 
wagons, and many people moving off with their effects and 
families, from the Irish settlement and Lehigh township, 
being terrified by the defeat of Hays' company and the 
burnings and murders committed in the townships on New 
Year's Day. We found this place filled with refugees, the 
workmen's shops and even cellars, being crowded with wo- 
men and children; and we learned that Lehigh township is 
almost entirely abandoned by the inhabitants. Soon after 
my arrival here, the principal people from the Irish settle- 

24 




WILSON BLOCK HOUSE 



ment — as Wilson, Elder Craig, etc. — came to me, and de- 
manded an addition of thirty men to Craig's company, or 
threatening they would immediately, one and all, leave their 
country to the enemy. Hays' company was reduced to 
eighteen men (and those without shoes, stockings, blankets 
and arms), partly by the loss of Gnaden Huetten, and partly 
desertion. Trump and Aston had made slow progress in 
building the first fort, complaining for want of tools, which, 
it was thought, the people in those parts might have supplied 
them with. 

"Wayne's company we found posted at Nazareth, 
agreeable to your Honor's orders, I ordered Hays to com- 
plete his company, and he went down to Bucks with Mr. 
(Rev.) Beatty, who promised to assist him in recruiting. 
His lieutenant lies here lame, with frozen feet, and unfit for 
action; but the ensign, with eighteen men, is posted among 
the present frontier inhabitants, to give some satisfaction to 
the settlement people, as I refused to increase Craig's com- 
pany. On my return, I have threatened to disband or re- 
move the companies already posted, for the security of par- 
ticular townships, if the people would not stay on their 
places, behave like men, do something for themselves, and 
assist the province soldiers. ' ' 

On the 16th day of January, Franklin escorted by Foulk's 
company of forty-six men; McLaughlin's detachment of twenty 
and Wayne 's command of fifty-five and seven wagons laden with 
provisions and stores, set out for Gnaden Huetten. Upon his 
arrival there he immediately began the erection of a fort, which 
he named Fort Allen in honor of his "old friend," William 
Allen. 

Other block-houses, forts and stockades were speedily erected 
on the frontier at strategic points, so that in a short time there 
was to be found a chain of such buildings to the number of forty, 
stretching from the Delaware Water Gap to and beyond Sunbury 
on the Susquehanna River. 

With the frontier guarded and at the direct command of 
Benjamin Franklin, the settlers again returned to their homes, 
among them no doutb Thomas Wilson, for surely his presence 
was needed in the community, since he owned and operated the 

25 



only grist mill then, far and wide. It was upon this mill and the 
mill at Howersville, owned and operated by Jost Dreisbach, who 
was one of the first commissioners of Northampton County and 
who in 1756 gave his excuse for non-attendance at court, "I must 
grind wheat for the forts," that the settlers and the soldiers on 
the frontier depended for flour. No doubt for the protection of 
himself and family and for the mill upon which the settlers de- 
pended, the block-house was erected. It is a small eight-cornered 
stone building ; the wall is two feet thick. It had no windows, but 
seven small port holes and a door on the southern side ; it is still 
in its original condition. When the Atlas company acquired the 
mill property from Captain Theodore Howell, they, through Mr. 
Seaman, the superintendent, gave their word of honor to pre- 
serve it. The retaining wall, which has been built around it and 
other repairs recently made, indicate how jealously they guard 
their trust, and how reverently they harken to the great preacher 
Solomon, who saith, "Remove not the old landmarks which thy 
fathers have set. ' ' 

The exact date of the erection of the old Wilson mill, like 
that of the erection of the Mennonite meeting house, is not defi- 
nitely shown, and we must again depend on contemporary records 
and documents. On August 20, 1739, William Allen obtained 
from the Penns, whose creditor he was, a ground of 1345 acres 
of land east of the Lehigh River, on the Hokendauqua Creek, em- 
bracing most of what is now the borough of Northampton. Two 
days later he sold of this grant 400 acres to Hugh Wilson. In 
the deed Mr. Wilson is given the right and privilege to use the 
water, construct a dam and water courses for the erection and 
operation of a mill. This clearly indicates that the purchase 
was made with the view of erecting a mill thereupon. Hugh 
Wilson and his three sons, Thomas, Samuel and Charles, were 
among the pioneers of the Irish Settlement. In 1752, Hugh 
Wilson conveyed the mill, together with a number of acres of 
land and all the water rights and courses to his son Thomas, for 
"five shillings and natural love and affection." After the mill 
passed out of the Wilson family, it changed ownership fre- 
quently until it came in the possession of the Howell family, 
about seventy-five years ago. In 1837 Joseph Howell razed the 
old mill, which was said to have stood for almost a century and 
erected another, at the time considered a modern mill. This 

26 



building, though no longer used, is still standing. In 1844 Joseph 
sold a half interest to his brother John and in 1856 the other half. 
From John Howell the ownership passed to his son, Captain 
Theodore Howell, and from him to the Atlas Cement Company. 
Though its walls are still standing, the water wheel is gone, and 
the life of the old mill has departed. As one stands in the 
shadow of the old walls and reflects that when that very spot for 
a century and a half, the golden grain that grew on the neighbor- 
ing hills, was ground into flour, and then beholds those very 
hills being shattered, broken up and ground into powder, to be 
transported to another clime and used in the welding together of 
two oceans, he feels force of the poet 's lamentation, ' ' Change and 
decay in all around I see. ' ' And a feeling somewhat akin to that 
expressed in the tender lines of George B. Marquart, possesses 
one 's soul. 

Down by the old mill I wander again, 

Where I played when I was a boy, 
I gazed on the scenes of the long ago, 

When life was a pean of joy. 
I gaze on the scenes of the long ago, 

And my heart beats low, as it yearns, 
For the mill is gone and the millers sleep 

And the wheel no longer turns. 

Yes, the mill is gone, and the millers sleep 

In quiet and peaceful repose, 
And the wheel stands still and no longer turns 

While the stream still onward flows. 
Yes, the wheel stands still and no longer turns, 

For the millers have fallen asleep. 
But the boys who played about the old mill, 

Are left, for the millers to weep. 
And the boys who played around the old mill, 

And for the miller's twain do weep, 
Are growing quite old, and wrinkled and gray, 

And soon with the millers shall sleep. 




27 



LAUBACH'S MILLS 



In 1771, Balthaser Beil, of Upper Saucon township, pur- 
chased from Archibald Laird, who the previous year had removed 
to Monmouth County, New Jersey, the plantation which he 
(Mr. Laird) had purchased from William Allen June 6, 1761, and 
which included the lower part of the borough of Northampton. 
In 1796 Henry Beil, son of Balthaser, having obtained the old 
homestead, erected a grist mill near the mouth of the creek. This 
mill was for many years owned and operated by members of the 
Laubach family and now forms a part of the chain of mills of the 
Mauser Milling Company. 

On account of the many mills formerly operated along the 
Hokendauqua Creek it was frequentlly called the Mill Creek. 

PAPER MILL 



North of Twenty-first Street, along this same stream, the 
LeVan family for many years owned and operated a paper mill. 




28 



MENNONITE SETTLEMENT 



The true history of any state, town or community must begin 
with its first centers of worship, its venerable churches and well 
filled graveyards. These were not only the first venerated and 
sacred places in the early settlements, but have always been the 
centers to which the deepest and most earnest thought of men 
have tended, and from which have gone out those benign and 
moulding influences which have made individuals, families, 
communities and states, as wealthy, worthy, prosperous and 
peaceful as they are. Such a center of influence, and in all prob- 
ability the nucleus for the town of Siegfried, is to be found in 
the old Mennonite meeting house, which stood in a grove on what 
is now West Twenty-first Street, opposite their cemetery, now 
generally known as the Siegfried burial ground. 

The Mennonites are an outgrowth of the Anabaptist move- 
ment of the German Reformation, though their origin may be 
traced back to the Waldenses of the twelfth and thirteenth 
centuries. They originated chiefly in Northern Germany, but soon 
found many converts among the peasant class of the lands bor- 
dering on the Lower Rhine, and take their name from Menno 
Simon, one of their leaders, who was born in 1496, four years af- 
ter the discovery of America. They were bitterly persecuted in 
the Fatherland, which caused many of them to emigrate to the 
land of William Penn, who in 1677 made a trip up the Rhine 
river, spoke at some of their meetings and later invited them to 
settle in his colony. The Mennonites have sometimes been char- 
acterized as the German Quakers, because they resemble the 
Quakers in dress, custom and manner of life, unlike them they 
have retained the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, 
to which they have added feet washing as having equal biblical 
authority with the two sacraments. It would however be his- 
torically more correct to designate the Quakers as English Men- 
nonites, for the Mennonites anticipated the Quakers by a century 
in the doctrine of ' ' universal divine light ' ' and in the ' ' unchris- 
tian character of war and oaths." They maintained that true 
religion and undefiled consisted not in forms, ceremonies of a 
hierarchy, nor in magnificent cathedrals built by man's hand, 

I 29 



but in bearing in heart and soul the image of the Master. They 
were opposed to any form of union between church and state, and 
to compulsion in matters of faith. 

Their motto, says Oscar Kuhns, in the German and Swiss 
Settlements of Colonial Pennsylvania, was, "Believe and let be- 
lieve. If anyone could persuade them out of the Bible, they were 




MENNONITE COSTUMES IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY 

willing to hear him ; but neither persecution, fire, sword, prison 
nor exile could bend their will, or make them recant what they 
believed to be the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. Not only were 
they steadfast in their faith, but they rejoiced in dying the death 
of martyrs. ' ' 

Ex-Gov. S. W. Pennypacker, in a recent address, said: "In 
many respects the Menonites are the most interesting of all the 
emigrants who came to America. Certainly their history was the 
most tragic. Their fathers trace their ancestry back to some fore- 
father, who was either beheaded or burned at the stake. ' ' 

Under the leadership of Francis Daniel Pastorius, a few 
Menonite families from Kriegsheim and Crefeld founded Ger- 
mantown in 1683, which became an open door for many of their 
persecuted brethren, to an asylum in Pennsylvania. 

30 



i 







Mennonite Church in Allen Township 



"Meek-hearted Woolman and that brother band, 
The sorrowing exiles from their Fatherland, 
Leaving their home in Kriesheim 's bowers of vine, 
And the blue beauty of their glorious Rhine, 
To seek amidst our solemn depths of wood, 
Freedom from man and holy peace with God." 

They settled chiefly in the fertile valley of Lancaster county, 
where many of their descendants live to-day, though quite ex- 
tensive settlements were made in the counties of Lebanon, York, 
Bucks, Montgomery, Berks and Lehigh, and small and scattered 
groups were to be found, up to the time of the Revolutionary War, 
in practically all of the southern and eastern counties of the state. 

No definite data as to the settlement of the Menonites in 
Whitehall and Allen townships has been handed down to us, 
and the names of some of them are entirely forgotten, nor is the 
year of their arrival definitely known. That the Sho waiter's, 
Basler's, Funk's, Zeigler's, Heistand's, Siegfried's and Landis' 
are of Menonite extraction, is however a known fact, and these, 
no doubt, were the founders of the congregation, and the people 
worshiped in the meeting house, which stood on West Twenty- 
first street. Jacob Sehowalter, Sr., of Whitehall township, ap- 
pears to have been one of the leaders of the congregation. In 
1759 he sold to William Allen, his farm of 450 acres, including 
the "undivided half" belonging to John Moore, the high sheriff 
of Northampton county, situated between the Lehigh river and 
the Deshler, Kern and Koehler plantations, and the Indian Falls 
in the Lehigh river and the Schreiber plantation. 

In the same year Allen sold the same again in four tracts, 
viz: 150 acres to Joseph Showalter; 100 acres to John Showalter, 
Sr., and 100 acres to Peter Bassler. 

These four families as stated above were Menonites and 
probably the nucleus of the congregation. This was apparently 
only a paper transaction, for the purpose of giving the occupants 
a clear title and deed to their already established homes. Having 
obtained a lawful title to their possessions, they, no doubt, if not 
already built, determined to erect a house of worship. 

"What sought they thus afar ? 
Bright jewels of the mine ? 
31 



The wealth of seas ? The spoils of war ? 
No, 'twas a faith 's pure shrine, 
Yes, call that holy ground the soil, 
Which first their brave feet trod, 
They left unstained, what here they found, — 
Freedom to worship God." 

It is therefore probable that their meeting house was erected 
in 1760, or possibly a few years prior. Surely not later than 
1761, for on an old land draft of that year the church is already 
designated. Tradition describes it as a small log building, rudely 
constructed, and also tells us that the early worshippers were 
frequently disturbed in their services by the Indians. During 
the summer and when the building became insecure, services were 
held in the woods adjoining. In 1771 Joseph Showalter sold his 
farm to Conrad Leisenring, John Showalter to Christopher Kern 
and Jacob Showalter, Jr., to George Koehler, and removed to 
Lancaster county, to dwell among their fellow members in the 
faith. A few years later Peter Bassler sold his property to 
Philip Jacob Schreiber and joined his former neighbors in their 
new homes. He is said to have been the last of the Menonites in 
Whitehall township. Through removal and death the congre- 
gation gradually declined and the building became insecure and 
was finally abandoned. 

The Old Mennonite Cemetery on West 21st street, generally 
spoken of as "the Siegfried burial plot," on which the proposed 
Siegfried monument is to be erected, is one of Northampton's 
few really old landmarks, and all that is left to remind the pres- 
ent generation that the town was once the center of a peace loving 
and God fearing Mennonite settlement. In it are said to repose 
the ashes of almost a hundred of the early settlers. 

Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade, 
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, 
Bach in his narrow cell forever laid, 
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. 

The cemetery originally comprised one acre. It was con- 
veyed March 10, 1770, "by Daniel Chambers to Joseph Showalter, 
Henry Funk, Peter Fried and Jacob Baer, in trust and for the 
Mennonist congregation of Whitehall and Allen Townships." 
When in 1802, the new meeting house along the road from 

32 



Weaversville to Kreidersville was erected and the cemetery 
opened, few interments, if any, were made on the old plot. By a 
special Act of Assembly, May 8, 1829, Jacob Funk, a surviving 
member of the old congregation, was given permission to sell the 
unoccupied part of the cemetery and use the proceeds to ^rect 
a stone fence around the part containing burials. On the 28th 
day of the same month, the unused part was conveyed to Daniel 
Siegfried, a son of Col. John Siegfried. A stone wall, three feet 
high and sixteen inches wide, was subsequently erected. This 
wall was removed in 1885 and the present iron fence erected. 
The money for which was raised by popular subscription through 
the efforts of Rev. Tilghman Seiple, a grandson of Henry Funk. 
It was subscribed chiefly by descendants of Mennonite families, 
several members of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a few 
public spirited citizens. After the fence was erected, the ceme- 
tery was rededicated on a Sunday afternoon in the presence of a 
large concourse of people. 

When 21st street was raised, the cemetery was also filled in 
to bring it up to the level of the street and all the little mounds 
were covered over and even the headstones, with the exception 
of those of John Siegfried and Jacob Baer, both of Revolutionary 
Fame. Until quite recently, it was run over with weeds and 
briers, a neglected and in the minds of some even a haunted spot. 
It has however of late years been well kept by several descend- 
ants of Adam Laubach, members of the Daughters of the Amer- 
ican Revolution. A neat tablet recounts its history and some of 
the patriotic services of Col. John Siegfried, the friend of Wash- 
ington. A flag pole has also been erected, from which there 
floats on the breeze an American Flag. The inscription on the 
head-stone of Col. John Siegfried's grave is unique in that the 
inscription is in both English and German. 




33 



Zum 

Gedaechtnis von 

JOHANNES SIEGFRIED 

welcher gestorben den 27 ten 

November — 1793 

Seinrs Alter war 48 Jahr 

und 1 Monath 

In Memory of 

JOHN SIEGFRIED 

who departed this Life November 

the 27th, 1793, aged 

48 years and 1 month 



The head stone of Jacob Baer contains this simple inscrip- 



tion 



JACOB BAER 
Starb d. 23 Sept. 

1827 
Alter 74 Jahre 



Here in the little cemetery, for many years a neglected spot, 
sleep those early settlers, who for freedom to worship God, shrunk 
not from the terrors of an unknown sea or even a savage wilder- 
ness, and of their sons, who repeated the sacrifice of their fathers, 
to add to liberty of conscience, political freedom. "They dared 
all, braved all, and suffered all for the privileges we now enjoy." 

In the heart of the city, they lie, unknown and unnoticed, 
Daily the tides of life go ebbing and flowing beside them, 
Thousands of throbbing hearts, where their 's are at rest 

for ever, 
Thousands of aching brains, where their 's no longer are 

busy, 
Thousnds of toiling hands, where their 's have ceased from 

their labors, 
Thousands of weary feet, where their 's have completed 

their journey ! 

What a fitting place to erect a memorial around which shall 
cluster the history and traditions of our town ! 

34 




Home of former Governor S. W. Pennypacker, Schwenksville, Pa. 

About this house Washington and his army camped, Sept. I 777 







Memorial to Jane Rosbrugh 

Wife of Chaplin John Rosbrugh, in the Presbyteiian Cemetery in Allen Township 





3utr? 

jfrgrftir&rtjVrt^? fn 
31o^fwCct-T793 

In Memory of 
}OHN SIEGFRIED 
.who ijeparted fhislifeAW/w 

■ arxffMonth. 




The Col. John Siegfried and Jacob Baer Headstones 

The only marked graves on the Mennonite Cemetery 



In 1802 a new meeting house was erected along the King's 
Highway, leading from Howertown to Kreidersville, on a plot 
of ground given by Thomas Horner and his good wife by a deed, 
dated February 11th, 1802, "to Jacob Baer, Jacob Hiestand, John 
Ziegler and Samuel Landis, in trust and for the Mennonite con- 
gregation of Whitehall and Allen townships and in trust for 
church purposes or for schools under the yearly quit. " At a con- 
gregational meeting held soon after the passing of the deed, it was 
decided to immediately proceed to the erection of a frame build- 
ing, 30x26 ft., and John Ziegler and Samuel Funk were ap- 
pointed a building committee. 

Twenty-eight persons subscribed to the building fund of 84 
pounds and four shillings, in sums varying from 3 S. 4 d. to 12 
pounds. 

There are no records of the congregational life and activ- 
ities of the worshippers in this church. No doubt, in former 
years there were regular preaching services. The names of those 
who ministered regularly to these people are not known. Through 
death the congregation, which was never large, gradually de- 
clined. Frequently the building was used for school purposes, 
and Rev. Cyrus J. Becker at one time taught in it. During the 
last decade a Sunday School was held in the meeting house, and 
also an occasional service. In later years there were occasional 
services, among those preaching being Levi Young, Tilghman 
Seiple, C. J. Becker, Samuel Landis and J. Y. Schultz. The late 
Moses Gottshall related how he was greatly annoyed by wasps on 
one occasion when conducting a preaching service in the church. 
The descendants of members of the congregation, to-day, with a 
few exceptions, are members of the neighboring Reformed con- 
gregations, their nearest kin in faith and practice. On July 14, 
1908, William Landis, trustee appointed by the court, sold the 
meeting house to the Allen township school district for the con- 
sideration of five hundred dollars, which sum is held in trust by 
William Landis, as trustee "for beautifying and keeping in re- 
pair the cemetery adjoining the old church." The school district 
has again sold the building and it is now used as a dwelling. 

On the stones in the cemetery adjoining, which is well kept, are found 
the names of leading pioneers among the Mennonites. 

Bear, Eva, nee Ziegler, wife of Jacob Bear, b. 4-25-1771, d. 11-11-1888,(^0 
aged 87 y, 6 m, 21 d. 

35 II? -<yv$ 



Bechtel, Abraham, married Catharine Yelles, and lived in holy wedlock with 
her for 33 years, 7 months and 5 days, b. 3-7-1765, d. 4-10-1850, aged 

85 y, 2 m, 3 d. 

Bechtel, Catharine, nee Yelles, the wife of Abraham Bechtel, b. 12-22-1776, 

d. 1-27-1829, aged 52 y, 2 m, 5 d. 
Bliem, Christian, b. 4-12-1805, d. 4-19-1883, aged 78 y, 7 d. 
Bliem, Abraham, b. 1-14-1807, d. 12-2-1885, aged 78 y, 10 m, 18 d. 
Bliem, Catharine, wife of Abraham Bliem, b. 4-12-1810, d. 8-30-1896, aged 

86 y, 4 m, 18 d. 

Bliem, Anna, b. 5-29-1819, d. 10-1-1900, aged 81 y, 4 m, 2 d. 

Bliem, Mollie, b. 3-27-1816, d. 7-21-1903, aged 87 y, 3 m, 24 d. 

Bliem, Magdahlena, nee Hoch, wife of Christian Bliem, b. 5-18-1773, 

d. 3-30-1819, aged 45 y, 10 m, 11 d. 
Bliem, Johannes, son of Christian Bliem, b. 7-26-1805, d. 8-10-1805, aged 14 d. 
Bliem, Samuel, son of Christian Bliem, b. 7-23-1821, d. 6-8-1830, aged 

8 y, 10 m, 16 d. 
Bliem, Daniel, son of Christian and Sarah Bliem, was born in Pottsgrove 

township, Montgomery county, Penna., on 5-27-1777, d. 4-24-1844, 

aged 67 y, 10 m, 27 d. 
Bliem, Anna, daughter of Abraham and Anna (Bechtel) Latsehar, born in 

Hereford township, Berks county, Penna., on 7-11-1782, d. 5-13-1853, 

aged 70 y, 10 m, 2 d. 
Bliem, Tilghman, son of Abraham and Catharine Bliem, b. 12-31-1852, 

d. 12-16-1854, aged 1 y, 11 m, 16 d. 
Coppes, M., no dates, name only. 

Funk, Jacob, b. 9-10-1832, d. 1-22-1898, aged 65 y, 4 m, 12 d. 
Funk, Daniel, b. 4-18-1825, d. 8-21-1827, aged 2 y, 4 m, 3 d. 
Funk, Jacob, b. 10-15-1799, d. 11-1-1861, aged 62 y, 16 d. Funeral Text 

2 Kings 20:1. 
Funk, Peter, b. 10-20-1774, d. 3-3-1855, aged 80 y, 4 m, 13 d. 
Funk, Susanna, nee Hiestand, b. 5-6-1778, d. 11-1-1847, aged 69 y, 5 m, 25 d. 
Funk, Sarah, nee Bliem, wife of Jacob Funk, b. 5-2-1803, d. 1-20-1898, 

aged 94 y, 8 m, 18 d. 
Gerhard, Matthias, b. 11-2-1760, d. 12-12-1854, aged 94 y, 1 m, 10 d. 
Gerhard, Veronica, nee Latsehar, b. 2-15-1771, d. 8-11-1824, aged 53 y, 

5 m, 26 d. 
Gerhard, Johann, son of Mathias, b. 8-16-1804, d. 9-10-1827, aged 23 y, 25 d. 
Geisinger, Meseris, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Geisinger, b. 11-8-1850. 
Geisinger, Elizabeth, b. 11-17-1823, d. 5-6-1833, aged 9 y, 5 m, 19 d. 
Geisinger, Mary, b. 7-29-1817, d. 1-10-1818, aged 5 m, 11 d. 
Geisinger, Susanna, daughter of Daniel and Susanna Geisinger, b. 9-28-1848, 

d. 8-25-1849, aged 10 m, 27 d. 
Hiestand, Mary, daughter of Henry and Catharine Hiestand, b. 3-1-1862, 

d. 4-15-1896, aged 34 y, 1 m, 14 d. 
Hiestand, Henry, b. 2-24-1824, d. 8-14-1884, aged 60 y, 5 m, 20 d. 
Hiestand, Catharine, b. 2-2-1825, d. 10-10-1886, aged 61 y, 8 m, 7 d. 
Hiestand, John, son of Henry and Catharine Hiestand, b. 12-27-1851, 

d. 11-3-1866, aged 11 y, 10 m, 6 d. 
Hiestand, Abraham, b. 7-17-1787, d. in 1863. 

Hiestand, Anna, nee Gerhast, wife of Abraham Hiestand, b. . 11-5-1794, 
d. 10-6-1855, aged 60 y, 11 m, 1 d. 

36 



Hiestand, David, b. 3-31-1820, d. 8-20-1895, aged 75 y, 4 m, 20 d. 

Hiestand, John, b. 21-1-1785, d. 4-3-1863, aged 77 y, 4 m, 2 d. 

Hiestand, David, b. 1783 and d. 1848, aged 55 y. 

Hiestand, Elizabeth, nee Swartz, and wife of David Hiestand. They lived in 

holy wedlock for twenty-five years, b. 7-7-1792, d. 11-27-1863, aged 

71 y, 4 m, 20 d. 
Hiestand, Elizabeth, b. 1808 and d. 1833, aged 25 y. 

Hiestand, Maria, nee Newcomer, b. 5-20-1747, d. 9-20-1812, aged 65 y, 4 m. 
Hiestand, Johannes, b. 4-10-1742, d. 11-10-1817, aged 75 y, 7 m. 
Hiestand, David, b. 9-1-1783, d. 8-3-1839, aged 55 y, 11 m, 2d. Funeral Text 

2 Cor. 4:6-8. 

Jung, Samuel, son of David and Barbara Jung, b. 5-21-1847, d. 8-18-1855, 

aged 8 y, 2 m, 27 d. 
Jung, Thilman, son of David and Barbara Jung, b. 6-6-1851, d. 11-8-1851, 

aged 5 m, 2d. 
Jung, Susanna, nee Hiestand, and wife of Peter Jung, b. 5-6-1778, d. 11-14- 

1847, aged 69 y, 4 m, 26 d. 

Jung, Peter, husband of Susanna Hiestand, b. 10-20-1774, d. 5-3-1855, 

aged 80 y, 4 m, 13 d. 
Landes, Abraham, b. 5-12-1797, d. 6-12-1840, aged 43 y, 1 m. 
Landes, Anna, wife of Abraham, b. 1-27-1800, d. 12-29-1884, aged 84 y, 

11 m, 2 d. 

Landes, Samuel, son of Abraham and Anna Landes, b. 10-15-1822, d. 11-18- 

1848, aged 26 y, 1 m, 3 d. 

Landes, George, son of Abraham and Anna Landes, b. 6-29-1828, d. 12-27- 

1855, aged 27 y, 4 m, 28 d, Funeral Text, 1 Cor. 15:53-57. 
Landes, William, son of Abraham and Anna Landes, b. 10-14-1837, d. 12-16- 

1837, aged 2 m, 2 d. 
Latschar, Esther, daughter of Abraham and Anna (Bechtel) Latsehar, born 

in Hereford, Pa., in 1761 and died in 1843, aged 82 y. 
Scherrer, George, b. 7-10-1811, d. 2-10-1866, aged 56 y, 7 m. 
Seipel, Bev. Thilman, grandson of Henry Funk, Funeral Text, 2 Cor. 4:17, 

b. 12-16-1838, d. 1-29-1895, aged 56 y, 1 m, 13 d. 
Swartz, Jacob Z., b. 11-22-1805, d. 10-1-1864, aged 58 y, 10 m, 9 d. 
Swartz, Susannah, wife of Jacob Z. Swartz, b. 9-16-1806, d. 6-1-1885, aged 

78 y, 9 m, 15 d. 
Swartz, five children of Jacob Z. and Susannah Swartz, no names nor dates. 
Swartz, Andrew, b. 1-20-1757, d. 6-20-1823, aged 66 y, 5 m, married on 

6-30-1789 Elizabeth Ziegler. 
Ziegler, Susan, daughter of Abraham Ziegler, b. 4-11-1812, d. 9-30-1813, aged 

1 y, 5 m, 19 d. 
Ziegler, Michael, son of Abraham Ziegler, b. 8-20-1810, d. 8-31-1810, 

aged 11 d. 
Ziegler, Maria, daughter of Abraham Ziegler, b. 3-20-1795, d. 5-1-1814, 

aged 19 y, 1 m, 18 d. 
Ziegler, Catharine, nee Bach, b. 11-18-1796, d. 4-18-1803, aged 33 y, 5 rn. 

ISlote: — The Mennonites herein mentioned are not to be con- 
founded with the Menonite Brethren in Christ, which represent a 
different type of religion. 



37 



FIRST DEFENDERS 



Just as at the opening of the Civil War "the First De- 
fenders" came from among the Pennsylvanians, so also in the 
American Revolution. Among the eight companies from the 
colony of Pennsylvania was the company of Captain Abraham 
Miller of Northampton County. These men were armed with 
long range rifles, many of which were made in Northampton 
County. It is related how while encamped at Cambridge, one 
of the officers drew the figures of a man 's head upon a board and 
set it at a distance which required expert riflemen and asked a 
company of sixty men to separately shoot at the target aiming 
for the nose and that every one hit the nose. This gave rise to 
the saying, "Now, General Gates, look out for your nose." It 
was the length of the range of the rifles and the accuracy of the 
shot of the First Defenders of the American cause, among the 
two thousand of whom, were more than three hundred from 
Northampton County. ■•% 






LONG ISLAND AND FORT WASHINGTON 



Hardly had bells, which ushered in the new born nation, 
ceased ringing when the British commander determined to crush 
out its very life in a single blow. His plan was to capture New 
York City, divide the colonies, and annihilate the rebel army. 
The Battle of Long Island and the capture of Fort Washington 
was the result of this campaign. Through blunders of several 
superior officers these battles were lost, but the valor of the Penn- 
sylvania German soldiers kept it from becoming disastrous. Thus 
they earned for themselves the title of "The Preservers of the 
New Born Nation." The troops from Northampton in this 
campaign were under the command of Colonel Kichlein, of 
Easton. 

The hardships endured by Frederick Nagel, of Allen town- 
ship, who enlisted when but fifteen years of age, as a private in 
Captain Nicholas Kern's company of volunteers, who served 
under Lord Stirling, and who was taken prisoner at the battle 
of Long Island, August 27th, 1776, and kept prisoner until peace 

38 



was declared, gives one some idea at what a price American 
freedom was obtained. In the year 1837, he made application for 
a pension. The following is his deposition : 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON, SS. 
On the 25th day of April, A. D., 1837, personally appeared in the 
open Court of Common Pleas of said county, before the Hon. John 
Banks, president, and John Cooper and Daniel Wagener, Esqs., Asso- 
ciate Judges of the said Court, Frederick Nagel, a resident of the town- 
ship of Allen, in said county, aged seventy-six years, the 25th of 
April (this day), who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his 
oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the 
Act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service 
of the United States under the following named officers, and served as 
hereafter stated. In June, 1776, he became a volunteer in what was 
called the Flying Camp. He enlisted in Lehigh Township, Northampton 
County, under Jost Dreisbach for six months, and marched into Moore 
Township, which adjoined Lehigh, to Christian Berger's, where he 
joined his company commanded by Captain Nicholas Kern. In a few 
days they marched to Easton, still in his native county (Northampton), 
where they joined other companies, and all came under the command of 
Colonel Peter Kichline, and in a few days crossed the Delaware, and 
marched to New Brunswick, where they arrived on Saturday evening, 
and left on Monday, and from thence they marched by way of Amboy to 
New York. They joined other forces in New York, and remained there 
until the afternoon of the twenty-sixth of August, when they were 
ordered over to Long Island in boats. They went over, struck their 
tents, and early the next morning the call was to arms. The battle in 
short time commenced, and lasted all day, the regiment to which he 
belonged, got in great confusion, and at about four o'clock in the after- 
noon, his Colonel (Kichline), who was commanding on foot, collected 
about two hundred of them together, and had their arms put in order, 
for we were in a hollow, and the enemy on a hill. He said we would 
break through their line and escape in New York. When we got about 
half way up the hill, the fire of the British came so hard, and so many 
fell, that the Colonel ordered a retreat. In a few minutes he was 
taken prisoner, and we all fled in confusion, into some briars and high 
grass, along the pond. About sunset, the British and Hessians came 
upon us and took us prisoners. Ensign Beechy was the only officer that 
was present when he was taken. He, together with about seven hundred 
others, were put in two small churches, and in two or three days, were 
all put together in one church (large church) and kept in the church, 
with the window shutters shut, for about ten days, fed on nothing but 
green apples, and drank water out of old pork barrels. The apples 
were brought to the church door in a cart and flung into the church. 
At the end of ten days, we got some bread. We were kept in the 
church until about the first of October, and then taken out and put on 

39 



board of a British ship which was called the "Julianna. " The ship 
was very dirty, and we were fed on old biscuits which were almost rotten. 
We remained in said ship until the last of October, when they offered to 
release as many as would swear that they would not take up arms again. 
He, with several others, refused to take the oath; some did, some he 
heard died on the road home. They were then put on other vessels 
and taken to Halifax. He refused to take the oath required, supposing 
that he could escape as soon as they came to land. Some time after 
they were at Halifax Berger and Cornelius Daniel, two of his com- 
panions, attempted to escape, and were caught, and received two 
hundred lashes. They remained at Halifax upwards of two years, the 
exact time he cannot tell, and were then ordered down to St. John's, 
and remained until the close of the war, until peace was declared, and 
then taken across the Bay of Windsor, and discharged. 

While at St. John's, he, together with five others, viz: Henry 
Godyer, Jacob Swap, Christian Henninger, Berger and Daniel above 
named, agreed to make their escape if they could. An Irishman, how- 
ever, called John Dunn, found out their plan and gave the information. 
Berger and Daniel each received eight hundred lashes. Berger was a 
fat man, and the flesh flell off his back. He, this deponent with the 
others, were placed in the guard-house for six months, and put on half 
allowance. They all would have been able to make their escape if it had 
not been for the boy. When he was discharged, he returned to his 
native county (Northampton) where he resided. When he volunteered, 
he found his own clothing and rifle. He has no documentary evidence, 
and knows of no person who can testify to his service, except Henry 
Siegel, who enlisted about the same time, and went out from the same 
county, under the same Colonel, in Captain John Arndt's company, 
whose deposition will be hereunto annexed. He hereby relinquishes 
every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, except the present, and 
declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency, or if any, 
only on that of Pennsylvania. 

(Signed) FREDERICK NAGEL. " 

Deposition of Henry Siegel. 



40 




COL. JOHN SIEGFRIED 

Col. John Siegfried, the friend of Washington, the founder 
of the town of Siegfried, was of Mennonite extraction. His 
ancestors were among the first German emigrants to Pennsyl- 
vania. The Siegfried family settled in Oley, prior to 1719, 
whence they spread into Maxatawny and Whitehall. 

Col. John Siegfried was born, according to tradition, in White- 
hall township, but the names of his parents and the place of his 
birth are somewhat uncertain. Comparatively little is known 
of his boyhood education and training. He first came into public 
notice in 1770 when he removed to the west bank of the Lehigh 
River at what became known as Siegfried's Bridge, where he 
conducted a store, a tavern and a ferry. This was the only ferry 
on the Lehigh River north of Allentown. The tavern was a one- 
and-one-half story log house and the sign contained in large let- 
ters this inscription : ' ' Entertainment for Man and Beast. ' ' 

This tavern was favorably located. It was the only means of 
crossing the Lehigh River, which separated the two populous 
settlements of Allen and Whitehall townships. 

Thus he came daily into contact with many people and soon 
formed a large circle of acquaintances which, together with his 
natural qualities for leadership, made him one of the most 
prominent citizens of the county. He was Lieutenant-Colonel of 
the Third Battalion of the Northampton County Malitia. 

It was upon Colonel Siegfried that Washington depended 
in matters pertaining to Northampton County during the cam- 
paign of 1777, having been authorized by the House of Assembly 
in the following resolution adopted on the 17th of December, 
1776 — " Resolved, that it be recommended to Gen. Washington 
to issue orders immediately for the militia of Bucks and North- 
ampton Counties forthwith to join his army and to disarm every 
person who does not obey the summons, and to seize and treat as 
enemies all those who shall attempt to oppose the execution of 
this measure, and likewise every person in those counties who 
are known or suspected to be enemies to the United States," 
— to call out the militia of Northampton County in defense of 

41 



the State, General Washington sent the following letter to Colonel 

Siegfried. 

' ' Headquarters, Bucks County, 

December 22, 1776. 

To Colonel John Siegfried: — 

Sir: — The Council of Safety of this State, by their resolves of the 
17th instant, empowered me to call out the militia of Northampton 
County to the assistance of the Continental army, under my command; 
that by our joint endeavors we may put a stop to the progress of the 
enemy who are making preparations to advance to Philadelphia, as soon 
as they cross the Delaware, either by boats or on the ice. 

As I am unacquainted with names of the colonels of your militia, I 
have taken the liberty to inclose you six letters, in which you will please 
insert the names of the proper officers, and send them immediately to 
them, by persons in whom you can confide for their delivery. If there 
are not as many colonels as letters, you may destroy the balance not 
wanted. 

I most earnestly entreat those who are so far lost to a love of their 
country as to refuse to lend a hand to its support, at this critical time, 
they may depend upon being treated as their baseness and want of pub- 
lic spirit will most justly deserve. 

I am sir, your most obedient servant, 

GEOKGE WASHINGTON." 

To this most urgent appeal, the yeomanry of North- 
ampton County promptly responded and within seven days after 
the issuing of the call the first division of Siegfried's Battalion 
was in Philadelphia, prepared to take the field. On Second 
Christmas Day, 1776, Siegfried was commissioned Lieutenant- 
Colonel and Reverend Rosbrugh, Chaplain, of the Third Bat- 
talion from Northampton County. The Minutes of the Council 
of Safety of that day contained these entries, "Commission 
filled for Jno. Sigfret, Lt. Col. 3d Batt'n, Northampton," and 
"Commission made out for Jno. Rosbrugh as Chaplain to 3d 






42 



'"-4r*a- 




GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON 

Whose friendship and confidence Col. Siegfried enjoyed 




WILLIAM ALLEN 

After whom Allen Township was named 



Battalion of Northampton militia." The soldiers of North- 
ampton County were assigned to the division of the army under 
the command of General Israel Putnam. 

They took part in the campaign which resulted in the cap- 
ture of 1000 Hessians at Trenton, but were unsuccessful in their 
attempt to cross the Delaware River. Encouraged by his suc- 
cess on Christmas night, General Washington ordered the entire 
army to cross the river and unite forces at Trenton. General 
Cornwallis, anxious to regain his laurels, leaving a part of his 
army at Princeton, hurried to Trenton to attack Washington in 
his new position. Cornwallis reached Trenton late in the after- 
noon of the second day of the New Year and upon being repulsed 
in his attack, said : ' ' We '11 bag the Fox in the morning. ' ' During 
the night Washington conceived the plan of attacking the re- 
maining forces at Princeton. In order to conceal his plans, 
he ordered embankments to be thrown up and the fires kept 
burning while the army was hurrying to Princeton. Among the 
detachment left behind to keep the fires burning were some of 
the men of Colonel Siegfried's Battalion. When Cornwallis 
thought he had the fox cooped in Trenton, the army was on its 
way to Princeton where, after a sharp conflict, the remaining 
British forces were defeated. When Cornwallis heard the can- 
nonading he thought it was distant thunder, but General Ers- 
kine exclaimed, "To arms, General! Washington has out- 
generaled us. Let us fly to the rescue at Princeton." Before 
the British forces at Trenton could come to the rescue Wash- 
ington had reached the Heights at Morristown, from where he 
threatened New York City, to which Cornwallis hastened to 
defend his base of supplies. 

Instead of going into winter quarters with the army at 
Morristown, Col. Siegfried and his men returned home to their 
families, ready at a moment's notice to take the field again. On 
their return they passed through Bethlehem where the diary of 
the Moravian congregation contains the following interesting 
entry : 

"January 14-16 [1777], — Capt. [John] Hays [Jr.] company of 
militia [in the Third Battalion of Northampton County] passed through 
on their return from Trenton. They were the first in this county last 
December to take the field. Mr. Rosbrugh, a Presbyterian clergyman, 
stationed in the Irish Settlement, in our vicinity, has taken a zealous 

43 



part in the organization of the company and even submitted his name 
among the lots to be drawn. The lot falling to him, he shouldered a 
private's rifle and repaired to Trenton where he alone of the company- 
was left dead on the field. ' ' 

In the fall of the year, 1777, the militia of Northampton 
County were again called out in the famous Pennsylvania cam- 
paign, and according to a diary of Col. Siegfried, which was in 
existence until quite recently, he took part in the battles of 
Brandywine, Germantown, Red Bank and Monmouth. During a 
part of this campaign the men from Northampton County were 
under the command of General John Armstrong and of Brig. 
General James Irvine. The latter was captured at the Battle 
of White Marsh, near Philadelphia, December 6, 1777, when he 
was sent with six hundred militia to intercept a threatened at- 
tack by General Howe on the American position at White Marsh. 
It is quite probable that some of the men from Northampton 
were among them. A monument with the following inscription 
marks the place : 

"About 700 feet South of this stone is an American redoubt and 
the site of Howe's threatened attack, Dec. 6, 1777. From here Wash- 
ington's army marched to Valley Forge. Erected in 1891 by the Penn- 
sylvania Sons of the Eevolution. ' ' 

Again instead of going into winter quarters at Valley Forge 
most of the men from Northampton returned to their homes, 
ready to respond to the call to duty. 




Return of the 2nd Brigade of Pennsylvania Militia, com- 
manded by Brig. General James Irvine, Esq., camp at White 
Marsh Township, Philadelphia County, Nov. 17, 1777 (the com- 
mand included three Battalions from Northampton County and 
three from Berks County). 

44 






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No. 1 return of L. Col. Balliot's battalion was from the 
camp in Limrick Township, Philadelphia County, Sept. 23, 1777. 
No. 2, from camp at Trappe, Providence Township, Philadelphia 
County, Sept. 29, 1777. No. 3, from camp at Trappe, Oct. 1, 
1777. No. 4, from camp at Pawling 's Mill, Oct. 7, 1777. 



45 



The return from camp in Towamensing Township, Oct. 13, 
1777, has the following note : — 

"N_ b. . — l. Col. Balliot's Battalion, consisting of 150 rank 
and file were yesterday discharged. ' ■ 

After the Battle of Germantown Col. Siegfried returned 
home to attend to affairs in the county. While at home Washing- 
ton wrote the following letter to him : 

"Sir: — By virtue of the power and authority given to me, by the 
honorable congress, I hereby request and authorize you to appoint such, 
and so many persons as you shall fee fit, to collect, for the use of the 
Continental army, all such blankets, shoes, stockings, and other articles 
of clothing, as can possibly be spared from the inhabitants of your 
section of country; giving receipts therefor, to be paid by the clothier- 
general. Obtaining these things from the Quakers and dissatisfied in- 
habitants, is recommended, but at all events, to get them. 

Given under my hand and seal, Philadelphia County, 6th of October, 
1777. 

GEOEGE WASHINGTON. 
To Colonel John Siegfried. ' ' 

According to local tradition a large amount of blankets, 
clothing and provisions were collected at Siegfried's tavern and 
from there forwarded to the army at Valley Forge. 

The following summer Gen. Clinton, who had succeeded 
Howe, alarmed by the coming of the French to aid the cause of 
freedom in America, evacuated Philadelphia and hurried to New 
York City. Washington followed, overtook and defeated him at 
Monmouth, New Jersey. According to his diary, Siegfried also 
took part in this campaign which ended in Clinton shutting him- 
self up in New York and Washington watching him from the 
Highlands. 

After the brutal massacre, by a band of Tories and Indians 
in the Wyoming Valley in July, 1778, companies of soldiers were 
constantly stationed along the frontier guarding against similar 
attacks. These men were known as Frontier Rangers. Accord- 
ing to the "pay roll of Northampton County militia," Col. John 
Siegfried and Capt. William Meyers received pay for services 
rendered, beginning Aug. 4, 1779, and ending Oct. 4, 1779. This 
apparently was for guarding the frontier. On June 4, 1781, in 
compliance with the Militia Act of the Assembly, asking that a 
company of Light Horse be formed in each county, six men 

46 



from the Third Battalion volunteered by making the following 
declaration : ' ' Therefore we, the subscriber, do sine our name to 
serve as Light Horses for Northampton County ' ' Jost Dreasbouk, 
Junr, John Birsban, Abraham Wotring, Jno. McMair, Lawrence 
Erb, John Siegfried." 



GREAT MEETING 



In the year 1779, continental money was rapidly depre- 
ciating in value, and various efforts were made to keep it on par 
with gold. Meetings were held in the larger cities and in the 
more populous counties. Such a meeting was held at the home of 
Col. Siegfried. The following is the call for the meeting : — 

"Allen Township, July 5th, 1779. 

Sir: — Notwithstanding the unhappy depredations committed on 
our frontiers, and the alarming situation that our defenceless inhabi- 
tants are exposed to, we must invite you cordially to take into considera- 
tion the case on which our inveterate enemies, the instigators of our 
present contest with Britain, are endeavoring to accomplish, viz: The 
separation of our councils; the urging of the weak and less informed 
in the situation of our affairs, to have and entertain an aversion to our 
just contest, and, by every means in their power, either to discourage 
or cause them totally to forsake it, by representing us entirely therefor, 
on account of not having men or money requisite for war. 

You are well acquainted with the unhappy proceedings of too many 
of even our Whig neighbors, whose love of money has prompted them to 
demand, or even to receive double, if not six-fold, the value of many of 
the necessary articles of life. 

That our currency may be brought to its just value as a medium 
of trade, and the base designs of our enemies frustrated, a number 
of the most respectable inhabitants of Philadelphia, having assembled 
for the purpose of giving it its proper value, reducing such extravagant 
prices as were demanded for all the necessaries or conveniences of life, 
having in some measure answered the valuable purpose of their meeting, 
it appearing unto us necessary that their laudable example be copied 
after. 

We request you to send at least those of your members as a com- 
mittee, to consult on such mode of proceeding, in the present state of 
affairs, as may co-operate with our brethren in the different counties, 
which committee are requested to meet the different committees of each 
battalion of this county, at the house of Colonel John Siegfried, on 
Thursday, the 29th instant, at ten o'clock, in the forenoon. 

By notifying the different captains in each township, the inhab- 

47 



itants thereof may be informed on what day they may choose their 
committee — the sooner the better — that they may be in readiness to 
attend the place appointed. 

Your most obedient servants, 

' ' JOHN SIEGFEIED, STEP. BALLIET. 

MATTHEW McHENEY, PETEE BUEKHOLDEE, 

CONEAD KBEIDEE, J. KOHLEE, 

EOBT. LATTIMOEE, PETEE BIESSAL. 

JNO. BEISBON, 
To Abm. Berlin, Esq., Easton. " 

The meeting was held, agreeably to the call, at the house of 
Washington's friend, Colonel John Siegfried, and was presided 
over by Colonel Henry Geiger, the secretary of the meeting being 
Eobert Traill. If the exhibition of the most fervent patriotism 
on the part of its members, or if the passage of the strongest 
resolutions setting forth to the people their duty and the import- 
ance of performing it, could have accomplished the object for 
which they met, it would have been well ; but all was unavailing. 
Even to those who, without hesitation, hazarded their lives, and 
the lives of their sons, on the battle-field in defence of liberty, 
the consideration of avarice was overshadowing; their property 
was dearer than life, and all efforts to uphold the paper currency 
were vain, for the British agents would pay as high a price in 
gold as was paid by our commissaries, in depreciated paper 
money. 

In the spring of 1781, Gen. Washington sent an officer to 
Easton to confer with Col. Siegfried, who was in command of a 
detachment of militia at that place, in reference to sending a 
quota to the army. This extravagant continental officer spent 
667 dollars in this trip according to the following bill. 

"Easton, March 17th, 1781. 
To a nip of Toddy. ... 10 dollars To 1 Bowl of Punch 30 dollars 

To cash 8 dollars To 21 Quarts of Oats 62 dollars 

To cash 12 dollars To Hay 90 dollars 

To 1 Grog 8 dollars To 12 meal victuals.. 260 dollars 

To Washing 49 dollars To Lodging 40 dollars 

To 1 Bowl of Punch 30 dollars 667 dollars 

To 1 Grog 8 dollars 

Eeceived the contents of the above, 

JACOB OPP, Innkeeper. ' ' 

Col. John Siegfried died November 27, 1793, and was buried 

48 



in the old Mennonite cemetery. Shortly before his death he, 
together with Michael Beaver and Abraham Levan, conveyed one 
hundred and twenty-three and a half perches to Henry Biel and 
Peter Butz in trust for a school. The school house was built of 
logs and was known as Levan 's School. 

Col. Siegfried served as High Sheriff of the County for one 
year, 1781 to 1782. 

John Siegfried was survived by his widow, Mary, and seven 
children, viz: Daniel, Mary, intermarried with John Jones, 
Susanna, intermarried with Christian Hagenbuch, Catharine-, 
Elizabeth, Jacob and Isaac. 

He was possessed of 219 acres and 60 perches of land in 
Allen Township along the Lehigh River. Also 131 acres. 96 
perches in Penn Township, along the Blue Mts., and also a one- 
eighth interest in 150 acres in Lehigh Township, along the Blue 
Mountains. After his death a petition was presented to the 

Court of Northampton County, asking for partition of the real 
estate. Judges were Peter Rhoads and Robert Traill. The Court 
appointed a jury to partition and if the lands could not be par- 
titioned, then to appraise. The jury reported that the land could 
not be partitioned equitably and they valued the land at 2016 
pounds, 7 shillings and 11 pence. At an Orphans' Court held in 
April, 1798, the oldest son, Daniel, accepted all the real estate at 
the appraised value and it was ordered by the Court that he pay 
the interest of 666 pounds, 15 shillings and 5 pence to his mother, 
annually until her death, as her dower right. The interest 
amounted to 40 pounds. The balance of the estate was divided 
equally among the seven children and two, Jacob and Isaac, being 
under the age of 21, had guardians appointed to receive their 
portion of the estate. The widow and Joseph Siegfried acted as 
administrators in the adjustment of the estate. 




49 



A RETURN OF .THE OFFICERS OF THE 4TH BATTALION OF MILI- 
TIA IN THE COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON WITH THE 
RANK OF THE COMPANIES 



"Colonel, John Sigfrit, 
Major, James Boyd, 
Lieut. Colonel, Nicholas Kern, 
Adjutant, Abraham Levan. 

FIRST COMPANY. 
Captain — John Gregory, 
1st Lieut. — Nicholas Happle, 
2nd Lieut. — Henry Siglin, 
Ensign — George Hood. 

SECOND COMPANY. 
Captain — George Edelman, 
1st Lieut. — Robert Hayes, 
2nd Lieut. — Paul Knows, 
Ensign — Nicholas Hauer. 
THIRD COMPANY. 
Captain — Henry Bowman, 
1st Lieut.; — Bernhart Bowman, 
2nd Lieut. — Bernhart Kline. 
Ensign — Henry Matthias. 

FOURTH COMPANY. 
Captain — William Kromer, 
1st Lieut. — John Deeter, 



2nd Lieut. — Valentine Waltman, 
Ensign — Lewis Erb. 

FIFTH COMPANY. 
Captain — Frederick Coons, 
1st Lieut. — George Coons, 
2nd Lieut. — Henry Bast, 
Ensign — Adam Coons. 

SIXTH COMPANY. 
Captain — John Balstone, 
1st Lieut. — Adam Clendenin, 
2nd. Lieut. — Joseph Brown, 
Ensign — William Kerns. 

SEVENTH COMPANY. 
Captain — George Rondebush, 
1st Lieut. — Peter Shelp, 
2nd Lieut. — Vandle Hower, 
Ensign — Robert Young 

EIGHTH COMPANY 7 . 
Captain — Paul Flick, 
1st Lieut. — Joseph Larash, 
2nd Lieut. — Adam Brackhonser, 
Ensign — Nicholas Silvus. 



A return of the Officers of the 4th Battalion of Militia in the 
County of Northampton with the rank of the Companies : 

I do certify the above to be a True Return of the Officers of the 
4th Battalion of Militia in the County of Northampton with their Rank. 
Witness my hand June 18th, 1777. 

JOHN WETZEL, Lieut. 
Dated Twenty-first of May. ' ' 



A GENERAL MUSTER ROLL OF THE FOURTH BATTALION OF 
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY MILITIA, MAY 14th, 1778 



FIELD OFFICERS. 

Colonel, John Sigfried, 
Major, James Boyd, 
Lieut. Colonel, Nicholas Kern, 
Adjutant, Abraham Levan. 

FIRST COMPANY. 
Captain — John Gregory, 
Lieutenants — Nicholas Happle, 

Henry Sigline, 
Ensign — George Hood, 
Court Martial Men, George 



Downing, Lawrence Fisher, 
Clerk — John Surfass, 
Serjeants — Adam Engler, Jesse 

Whasborn, Peter Franse, 

Rodger Downing, 
Corporals — Levy Frivel, Samuel 

Bond, Abraham Smith, Jr., 

Frederick Serf as, 
Drum and Fife — Philip Shup, 

Nicholas Carroll. 

1ST CLASS. 
Dell Bower, 



50 



Henry Shup, 
George Teats, 
Godfred Greenswegs, 
Valentine Mackes, 
Samuel Green, 
Joseph Van Buskerk. 

2ND CLASS. 

Christian Serfass, 
Abraham Smith, Sen'r 
Henry France, 
George Kuncle, 
Peter Horpack, 
Andrew Buskerk, 
Jacob Bondenbach. 

3ED CTASS. 
Conrad Baker, 
Casper Neff, 
Henry Borger, 
Christopher Barlip. 

4TH CLASS. 
Jesse Whasborn, 
William Mansfield, 
Mosses Frevel, 
Nicholas Borger, 
John Smith, 
Peter Hofsmith, 
Abraham Bachman. 

5TH CLASS. 
John Meyer, 
Christian Arndt, 
George Hack, 
Conard Hack, 
John Lester, 
John Bodehback. 

6TH CLASS 
Jacob Heepe, 
Abraham Shup, 
William Serfass, 
John Mieksel, 
Jacob France, 
Thomas Careheart, 
Samuel Bidelman. 

7TH CLASH 
Henry Arndt, 
Nicholas Altomas, 
Henry Serves, 
Peter Smeall, 
Christopher Clinedop, 
Joseph Green, 
Lawrence Van Buskerk 
Levey Boker. 

8TH CLASS. 
John Sharpentey, 
Henry Greenswig 
Jacob Heepler, 
George France, 



Christopher Christmas, 
Joseph Watkins, 
John Silkert. 

SECOND COMPANY. 
Captain — George Edlemai 
1st Lieut. — Robert Hayes, 
2nd Lieut. — Paul Knows, 
Ensign — Nicholas Hauer. 

1ST CLASS. 
Frederick Klebinger, 
Simon Drisebach, 
Peter Laback, 
John Wetzel, 
Jacob Kratzer. 

2ND CLASS 
Henry Boyl, 
George Hess, 
Henry Coal, 
John Bear, 
Henry Steiner. 

3ED CLASS 
Conard Holestein, 
Joseph Drissell, 
Henry Kirts, 
Jacob Herring, 

4TH CLASP 
Henry Snider, 
Michael Gressler, 
George Jaeobey, / 
Ulrich Showalter, S 
John Drissell. 

5TH CLASS 
John Snider. 
George Beeh, 
Conard Labach, * 

George Biss. 
Frederick Hower, 
Frederick Propper, 
Jacob Bear. 

6TH CLASS. 
John Diefenderfer, 
Christian Heilman, 
Jacob Frack, 
Henry Bartholomew, Sen 
Henry Bartholomew, Jun 

7TH CLASS. 
John Larch, 
Peter Bartholomew, 
Adam Frang, 
Jacob Musselman, 
George Frederick, 
John Mosser. 

8TH CLASS 
Robert Beard, 
John Allison, 



51 



Frederick Kreatzer, 
Andrew Lilly, 
Henry Kelbenger, 
Faltree Onewalt, 
Lawrence Erb, 
George Bastian. 

THIED COMPANY. 
Captain — Henry Bowman, 
1st Lieut. — Barnhart Bowman. 
2nd Lieut. — Barnhart Kline- 
Ensign — Henry Matthias. 

1ST CLASS. 
Adam Foggleman, 
Daniel Shullet, Sen'r., 
Daniel Shullet, Jun'r., 
Michael Sacks, 
Andrews Lowine, 
John Dun, 
Jacob Lorich. 

2ND CLASS. 
Jacob Ritz, 
Frederick Boyer, 
Henry Strowl. 

3ED CLASS. 
Henry Blows. 

4TH CLASS. 
Daniel Strowl, 
Christopher Seiberling, 
Balser Hoack, 
Henry Davis, Jun'r. 

5TH CLASS. 
Deitruck Warner, 
Benedick Snidder, 
Frederick Goultner. 

6TH CLASS. 
George Anthony, 
Michael Strowl, 
Ulrieh Arndt, 
Barnet Eeib. 

7TH CLASS. 
Henry Boyer, 
Nicholas Bucks, 
Jacob Antnor, 
Martin Earntt. 

8TH CLASS. 
John Kline, 
Robert Dunn, 
Michael Wetzel, 
Henry Davis, Sen'r. 

FOURTH COMPANY. 
Captain — William Kromer, 
1st Lieut. — John Deiter, 
2nd Lieut. — Valentine Waltman, 
Ensign, Lewis Erb, 



Court Martial Men- — Henry 
Strouse, Nicholas Millenberg, 

Serjeants — D a v i d Blackley, 
George Kohl, John Stewart, 
Christian Warmkessel, 

Corporals — Christian Ruffner, 
Frederick App, Simon Gaue 1 *, 
Conard Baehman. 

1ST CLASS. 

Jacob Miller, 

Jacob Neiss, 

Martin Kaster, 
-Yost Dreisbach, Jun'r., 

George Dreisbach. 

2ND CLASS. 

Frederick Baushman, 

Peter Waldman, 

John Dreasbaugh, 

Michael App. 

3RD CLASS. 

Michael Musselman, 

Matthew Humble, 

Valentine Mush, 

George Brown. 

4TH CLASS. 

Samuel Oblinger, 

Lewis Kleppinger. 

5TH CLASS. 

Samuel Musselman, 

Christian Humble, 

Michael Swarts. 

6TH CLASS. 

John Sherrer, f 

Peter Master, 

Andrew Foot, 

John Knapthender, ' 

David Marsh, Jun'r. 

7TH CLASS. 
Benjamin Kratzer, 
John Haffelfanger, 
Conard Geary, 
Adam Helker. 

8TH CLASS. 
John Falstick, 
John Beigele, 
John Musselman, 
Jacob Sholl. 

FIFTH COMPANY. 
Captain — Frederick Coons, 
1st Lieut. — George Coons, 
2nd Lieut. — Henry Bast, 
Ensign — Adam Coons, 
Court Martial Men, George Liv- 

engood, John Bullart, 
Serjeants — Peter Glass, Henry 



52 




CJ 



LJ £ 



3t £ 



U 



Snider, George Harman, 
Jacob Harman, 
Corporals — Theobald Shaffer, 
Jacob Heisley, Nicholas An- 
thony, John Leonbueher. 

1ST CLASS. 
Peter Miffley, 
John Seacher, 
Ludwiek Anthony, 
George Shanbercher, 
Peter Coons, 
John Bootner. 

2ND CLASS. 
Jacob Eudde, 
Valentine Starce, 
Abraham Linebeager, 
Jacob Gruber, 
Isaac Oblunger, 
Philip Reiffner. 

3RD CLASS. 
Amos Bierr, 
Philip Baker, 
George Osterday, 
Isaac Reib, 
John Sleaeher, 
Conrard Harman. 

4TH CLASS. 
Adam Bierr, 
Conard Silvess, 
Frederick Eberhart, Jim 'r.j 
John Shuiddy, 
Nicholas Oblinger, 
Jacob Bouchman. 

5TH CLASS. 
Dovault Gorringer, 
Henry Wanmacher, 
Peter Kesster,, 
Leonard Heizzel, 
Nicholas Snidder, 
Conard Snidder. 

6TH CLASS. 
John Ready, 
Jacob Baker, 
William Boack, 
Michael Holestein, 
Charles Creass, 
Andrew Mayer, 

7TH CLASS. 
Jacob Roat, 
Peter Anthony, Sen'r., 
Godlep Andrews, 
Frederick Mooal, 
John Remeley. 

8TH CLASS. 
John Beirr, 



John Beattee, 
Jacob Gasster, 
Nicholas Dermoyer, 
Frederick Eberhart, Sen'r. 
SIXTH COMPANY. 
Captain — John Ralstone, 
1st Lieut. — Adam Clendeniii 
2nd Lieut. — Joseph Brown, 
Ensign — William Kerns. 

1ST CLASS. 
Andrew Himphill, 
Christian Hagenbaugh, 
Samuel Willson, 
James Hemphill, 
Robert Craig, 
David Jolly. 

2ND CLASS. 
Peter Beisel, Sen'r. 
Thomas Wilson, 
Hugh Horner, 
William Young, 
Charles Richard, 
John Sterling. 

3RD CLASS. 
William Cartty, 
Peter Beisel, Jun'r., 
James Homer, 
John Weaver, 
Samuel Ralston, 
Mark Stillinger. 

4TH CLASS. 
Jacob Hagenbaugh, 
James Lukens, 
Mosses Hemphill, , 
George Hoack, 
James Kerr, 
George Wolf, 
James Brown. 

5TH CLASS. 
Thomas Horner, 
James Cloyd, 
Robert Doak, 
Thomas Herron, 
Uriah Tippe, 
William Haslet, 
John Walker, 
James Doak. 

6TH CLASS. 
Robert Lattimore, 
John McNair, 
Jacob Beisel, 
William McNair, 
James Boyd, 
George Gray, 
Benjamin Stuart, 
Peter Overheimer. 



53 



7TH CLASS. 

John Hays, 

John McCartney, 

Daniel McMullon, 

Alexander Beard, 

Joseph Likins, 

William Heart, 

William Kerr, 

John Brisban. 

8TH CLASS. 

John Humes, 

Moses Campbell, 

John Clyd, 

James Lattimore, 

Michael McLoy, 

Abraham Levan, 

James Collins, 

William Kongelton, 

John Horner. 

SEVENTH COMPANY 

Captain — George Eoudebush, 

1st Lieut. — Peter Phelp, 

2nd Lieut. — Vandle Hower, 

Ensign — Eobert Young, 

Court Martial Men — Benjamin 
McCartty, Henry Faust, 

Serjeants — George Fanss, Nich- 
olas Ott, George Neighart, 
Casper Sterner, 

Corporals — Philip Stuber, Val- 
entine Terstsinger, Andrew 
Hower, Daniel Yeount, 

Drum and Fife — Jacob Fauss. 
1ST CLASS. 

Leonard Knause, 

Andrews Creadler, 

John Hartzel, 

Joseph Kitt, 

William Daniel, 

Peter Glass. 

.2ND CLASS. 

Bernhart Arndt, 

Conard Gesse, 

Jacob Swarts, 

John Sterner, 

John Keiper, 

Rudolph Cauffman. 

3RD CLASS. 

William Smith, 

Henry Emeach, 

Nicholas Young, 

John Frederick, 

Jacob Weaver, 

4TH CLASS 
Frederick Paul, 
John Neighart, 



John Merkell, 

Ludwick Keipper, 

John Hanshew, 

Ifcnry Retter. 

5TH CLASS. 

Peter Meanneach, 

Casper Ritter, 

Tohn Cockhill, , 

Daniel Swarts, 

Ri< hard Lawrence, 

Martin Fry, 

6TH CLASS 

George Cooner, 

Georgt Richard, 

Henry Hartzell, 

Michael Keipper, 

Jacob Seipp, 

Henry Forsinger. 

7TH CLASS. 

Joseph Daniel, 

Michael Mayer, 

Mekhoeir Roockle, 

Isaac Groose, 

William Kreitze, 

Nicholas Remmill. 

8TH CLASS. 

Barnet Reppelee, 

Martin Lazerus, 

George Keipper, 

Abrahem Grosse, 

William Mennech, 

Thomas Stephens. 

EIGHTH COMPANY. 

Captain — Paul Fleck, 

1st Lieut. — Joseph ( illegible), 

2nd Lieut. — Adam Bruckhauser, 

Ensign — Nicholas Silveas, 

Court Martial Man — Casper 
Erb, Jacob Bochart, 

Serjeants — Adam Ruffner, Si- 
mon Ruffner, Jacob Ebert, 
Jacob Erbb, 

Corporals, Adam Merch, Philip 
Deamer, Casper Mercn, .John 
Leichsess, 

Drum and Fife — John Deutter, 
Martin Ashbach. 

1ST CLASS. 

Frederick Shenberger., 

James Reed, 

George Deal, 

Philip Wealty, 

John Walker, 

Francis Crimting, 

Joseph Oldhouse, 

David Blockly. 



54 



2ND CLASS 
John Leicks, 
Jacob Balliet, 
Andrew Kents, 
John Selviches, 
John Snider, 
George Miller. 

3RD CLASS. 
Abraham Swaeats, 
John Lentt, 
George Coal, 
Christian Spangler, Jun '. 
George Swarts, 
John Clepinger, 
Michael Ash. 

4TH CLASS. 
Christian Billhener, 
Michael Glass, 
Conard Sleagle, 
Martin Rowich, 
John Klepphart, 
Jacob Sheack, 
John Selveches. 

5TH CLASS 
Christian Miller, 
Peter Teammer, 
John Miller, 
John Hyle, 



Jacob Moots, 
George Grafft, 
George Pitts, 
Joseph Yeattle. 

6TH CLASS 

William Kerr, 
Henry Fauss, 
Cassmer Featherman, 
Casper Flick, 
George Naugel, 
Nicholas Neallech. 

7TH CLASS. 

Valentine Snider, 
Nicholas Shoell, 
James Williamson, unfit 
Jonathan Heile, 
Jacob Brouch, 
Mannes France, 
John Cleckner. 

8TH CLASS. 

John Reed, 
John Reiswich, 
Michael Heynnech, 
John Hoouchess, 
John Lauffer, 
Jacob Haueh, 
Christian Speangler. 




55 



REV. JOHN ROSBRUGH 



Rev. John Rosbrugh, "the clerical martyr of the Revolu- 
tion," was born in 1714, shortly before his family left for Scot- 
land for the North of Ireland from where he and his elder 
brother, William, came to America. They settled in New Jersey, 
where John attended Princeton College, graduating in 1761. 
His first pastorate was that of the Tennent or Brainerd church at 
Greenwich. His parish consisted of the territory embracing what 
is now Warren County, New Jersey. On the 3rd day of April, 
1769, Rev. Rosbrugh accepted a call from the Allentown (Allen 
township) congregation in which the congregation asked for two- 
thirds of his time. He, with the consent of the Presbytery, sup- 
plied the Allen township congregation in connection with his 
churches in New Jersey. The following year he removed to Allen 
township. Doubtless the influences that brought him here was 
that of his wife 's family, she being a daughter of James Ralston. 

After the battle of Long Island, Northampton County was 
in a feverish excitement ; many of its sons had spilled their blood 
in the cause of liberty. George Taylor had for them signed the 
Declaration of Independence, and James Ralston represented 
them in the Continental Congress. Washington and his shattered 
army were fleeing across New Jersey towards Pennsylvania, and 
the British with hired assasins in close pursuit, were threatening 
to invade the County. The Council of Safety of Pennsylvania 
authorized General Washington to call out all the able bodied 
men. Washington sent a most urgent appeal to Allen township, 
where Col. John Siegfried lived. Rev. Rosbrugh having assem- 
bled the congregation, read to them the call for reinforcement and 
ascending the pulpit took for his text Judge 5 :23 : " Curse ye 
Meroz, saith the angel of the Lord ; curse ye bitterly the inhabi- 
tants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to 
the help of the Lord against the mighty, ' ' and urged them to en- 
list and offered to aicompany them as their chaplain. They ac- 
cepted his challenge but insisted that he accompany them as 
their commanding officer. 

He returned home, told his wife, whose brother-in-law was a 
prisoner of war in the fatal ships at New York, of his intentions, 

56 



made his will and arranged for his departure on the following 
day. Practically all of the congregation met the next day and 
the able bodied men formed a company and immediately, under 
the leadership of their pastor, marched away, going toward 
Philadelphia, where they arrived December 24th, 1776. Thus in 
eight days from the time the call for more troops was issued, 
Rev. Rosbrugh and his parishioners were ready upon the field for 
action. 

As Rev. Rosbrugh 's brother-in-law, John Ralston, was in 
the city in connection with his duties as a member of the 
Continental Congress, with him the patriot pastor spent the night 
of the 24th of December. The next day, Christmas, he wrote the 
following letter to his Wife : 

My Dearest Companion: — I gladly embrace ye opportunity of 
telling you that I am still yours, and also in a tolerable state of health, 
thro' ye tender mercy of our dear Lord. The important crisis seems 
to draw near, which I trust may decide the query whether Americans 
shall be slaves or free men. May God grant ye latter, however dear it 
may cost. An engagement is expected in a few days. All our com- 
pany are in Philadelphia in health and in good spirits. They are under 
the command of General Putnam, and it is expected they will be 
ordered to ye Jerseys to-morrow or next day. I cannot write much at 
present, only that we have had some encouraging news form ye Jerseys, 
but whether true or false we cannot determine. My dearest creature, 
ye throne of Grace is free and open; I trust you have an interest there; 
it will be to your interest and happiness to live near ye throne ; you will 
find ye way of duty ye only way of safety. Farewell for a while. 
Please to present my compliments to Stephen and Nancy; and to all ye 
children. Praying that God may pour out his blessing upon you all, 
this from your truly affectionate husband: 

JNO. EOSBEUGH. 

P. S. Last night I lodged with Jno. Ealston, he is well. 
Philadelphia, December 25th, 1776. 

On the evening of this day (December 26th), he wrote to his 
wife with regard to the bushel of salt which he had purchased for 
sixty dollars, and enclosed the circular relative to the atrocities 
of the British officers. In this letter he mentions his appointment 
as Chaplain. 

"I have received this afternoon a commission sent me by the 
Council of Safety, to act as Chaplain of Northampton County militia, 
and am now entered upon the duties of my office. Oh ! that God would 
enable me to be faithful." 

57 



In the minutes of the Council of Safety, December 26th, 
1776, the following is recorded : ' ' Commission made out for Jno. 
Rosbrugh, as Chaplain to 3d battalion of Northampton militia. ' ' 
Thus was he relieved of the command of the company which he 
mustered and led to the seat of war, and Captain John Hays as- 
sumed the responsibility of this position. Eev. Rosbrugh 's duties 
were now those of Chaplain, not simply to the company which 
he raised, but to all those troops from Northampton County 
known as the Third Battalion of militia under the command of 
Col. John Siegfried. On the same day that Rev. Rosbrugh re- 
ceived his commission as Chaplain, Colonel John Siegfried was 
commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the same battalion. 

In the meantime General Washington had recrossed the 
Delaware River, and on Christmas night captured a thousand 
Hessians and returned safely to the Pennsylvania side. En- 
couraged by this bold venture he again crossed into New Jersey to 
engage in an agressive campaign. Chaplain Rosbrugh sent home 
the following letter : 

"(Friday) morning, 10 o'clock at Bristol Ferry, Decern [ber 27th, 
1776]. I am still yours [but] I haven't a minute to tell yo[u that by 
God's grace our company] are all well. We are going over to N[ew Jer- 
se]y. You would think strange to see your Husband, an old man, 
riding with a French fusee slung on his back. This may be ye la[st let- 
ter] ye shall receive from your Husband. I have counted myself you[rs 
and have been en]larged of our mutual love to God. As I am out of 
doors [I cannot at present] write more. I send my compliments to you, 
my dear, and children. Friends pray for us. 

From your loving Husband, 

JNO. EOSBEUGH. " 

This letter is addressed on the back : " To Mrs. Jean Ros- 
brugh, Delawr Forks." "The last letter." The words "The 
last letter, ' ' are in the handwriting of the bereaved wife. 

The American forces were being concentrated at Trenton. 
General Howe, having learned of the capture of the Hessians at 
Trenton, hastened with all speed across New Jersey and suddenly 
came upon the American lines at the creek of Assunpink, where 
occurred one of the most bolody and disastrous short conflicts, to 
the British army, in the whole war. In this important battle 
Rev. Rosbrugh was cruelly put to death. 

Various versions of this sad occurrence have been handed 

58 



down, but the most trustworthy account is that of Captain Hays, 
and which has been preserved in Mr. Rosbrugh's family. It is 
substantially as follows: 

' ' There was confusion in the haste with which General Washington 
withdrew his army to the South side of the creek of Assunpink, when 
Cornwallis suddenly reached Trenton. In this haste it seems he lingered 
behind the rest of his comrades. Seemingly not fully conscious of the 
dangers which surrounded him, he remained too long in the town ere he 
sought a place of greater safety with the army beyond the Assunpink. 
He came to the public house which stood upon the site now occupied by 

the Mechanics National Bank, corner of State and Warren streets, in 
the city of Trenton. As night was drawing on, he tied his horse under a 
shed and entered the house to obtain some refreshments. Whilst at the 
table he was alarmed by hearing ' ' The Hessians are coming. ' ' Hasten- 
ing out, he found that his horse had been stolen. Hurrying to make his 
escape by the bridge on Green street, he found that cannon had been 
posted to sweep it and the guard was instructed to allow no one to pass; 
beside, those in charge of it were fast breaking it up. He turned his 
steps down the stream toward the ford where Warren street now 
crosses. On arriving there he found it impossible to make his escape. 
He then turned back into a grove of trees, where he was met by a 
small company of Hessians under the command of a British officer. 
Seeing that further attempt at escape was useless, he surrendered him- 
self a prisoner of war. Having done so, he offered to his captors his 
gold watch and money if they would spare his life for his family's 
sake. Notwithstanding these were taken, they immediately prepared 
to put him to death. Seeing this, he knelt down at the foot of a tree 
and, it is said, prayed for his enemies. Now seventeen bayonet thrusts 
were made at his body, and one bayonet was left broken off in his 
quivering frame. Sabre slashes were made at his devoted head, three 
of which penetrated through the horsehair wig which he wore. So died 
the ' Clerical Martyr of the Eevolution ' at the age of sixty- three. As the 
shades of that cold and dreary winter evening settled down upon the 
sad scene, his lifeless body became rigid in the icy embrace of death. 
The British officer, at whose command he had been put to death, repaired 
to the house which Mr. Eosbrugh had so recently left, and there ex- 
hibited the dead Chaplain's watch, and boasted that he had killed a 
rebel parson. The woman of the house, having known Mr. Eosbrugh, 
and recognized the watch, said: 'You have killed that good man, and 
what a wretched thing you have done for his helpless family this day.' 
The enraged officer, threatening to kill her if she continued her re- 
proaches, ran away as if afraid of pursuit. 

' ' It was not long until Captain Hays was appraised of the death of 
his pastor, upon which he hastily wrapped the body in a cloak and 
buried it where it lay, being under necessity to hurry forward with the 
rest of the troops in the night march which precipitated the battle of 

59 



Princeton the next morning." 

Eosbrugh, a tale of the Bevolutvon. p. 58-59. 

Sometime afterward, Mr. Duffield, later pastor of the Old 
Pine Street Presbyterian church, Philadelphia, who was a 
brother Chaplain in the Continental army, took up the body 
and reburied it. It is alleged that fresh blood flowed from his 
body upon its reinterment. 

Tradition says that his ashes reposed in the burying-ground 
at the First Presbyterian church in Trenton. Rev. Rosbrugh's 
descendants, however, are of the opinion that the body was 
taken to Philadelphia, but where buried they do not claim to 
know. 

Within two weeks after the pastor and many of his parish- 
ioners bade farewell to home and loved ones, the sad news came 
to the settlement that their pastor had been killed. How this 
sad news was received in the parsonage, sheltering the wife and 
five small children, the eldest of whom was but ten, and the 
youngest less than a year, is too sacred and pathetic to be here 
recounted. After some delay Mrs. Rosbrugh was given a pension 
of 355 pounds in continental currency. She died March 27, 1809, 
and was buried in the cemetery near the church from whence 
her husband marched away never to return. 




60 



CAPTAIN HAY'S COMPANY— 1776 



From ' ' An account of money paid by Captain Hay 's ' ' of Northampton 
County, ' ' to his company in the City of Philadelphia of their monthly wages 
paid December 27, 1776," we have the following roll of his company: 



Captain, Eobert Hays 
Lieutenant, William Caruthers, 

discharged Jan. 9, 1777 
Ensign, Thomas Horner 

PEIVATES. 
James Doak 
William Maffitt 
Alexander Vanhan 
John Clyde, discharged Jan. 17, 

1777 
James Lattimore 
Benjamin Stuart 
Moses Campbell, discharged 

Jan. 17, 1777 
John McFadden 
James Boyd 
George Gray 



Moses Cangleton 
Eev. Mr. John Eossbrugh, dis- 
charged Jan. 3, 1777 
Eobert Lattimore 
Michael Malloy 
William Kairns 
Thomas Herron 
John Horner 
John Walker 
Joseph Likens 
Daniel MeMullin 
Eobert Doak 
John Overshimer 
John Humes 
Moses Cronklton 

John Brisban, discharged Jan. 
14, 1777 



In addition to the above we have what follows as of importance in this 
connection. 

December 25, 1776. 



An account of money paid for salt to my company, Fifteen bushels, to 
the undernamed persons at 7s. 6d. bushel and the carriage Is. 6d. from 
Philadelphia to Allen township. 



Colonel Sigfried to % bu. 
Adjutant Boid to % bu. 
Lieu. Caruthers to % bu. 
Ensign Horner to % bu. 
James Doak to % bu. 
Moses Cangleton to ^ bu. 
William Kairns to % bu. 
William Hart to % bu. 
John Clyd to % bu. 
Eobert Lattimore to % bu. 
George Gray to % bu. 
Thomas Herron to % bu. 
James Lattimore to % bu. 
John Walker to % bu. 
William Maffit to y 2 bu. 



Benjamin Stuart to % bu. 
Joseph Likens to % bu. 
Moses Campbell to % bu. 
Daniel MeMullin to % bu. 
Michael Milloy to ^ bu. 
Eobert Doak to % bu. 
Patrick Eyan to % bu. 
John Overshimer to % bu. 
John McFadden to % bu. 
William McConnell to % bu. 
John Horner to % bu. 
Alexander Beard to % bu. 
John Humes to % bu. 
Alexander Vanhan to % bu. 



61 



Memorandum of the Time that a Part of Colonel Tresspaugh Battalion 
of Militia under Command of Lieutenant Colonel Siegfried entered the ser- 
vice. Lieutenant Colonel & all that Division of Said Battalion entered the 
service the 14th day of December, 1776. Such persons only excepted as 
is af termentioned. 

John Humes, the 31st of December, 1776 
Alexander Beard, the 6th day of January, 1777 
William Morrison, the 16th day of January, 1777 

Time of entry of Lieutenant Bobert Hay's Company was January 6, 



1776. 



Pennsylvania Archives — Fifth Series Vol. VIII pages 540-542 




62 



Ancestry of Col. John Siegfried 

Reprinted from Cement News, Nov. 13, 1914 



The dedication of a monument to 
Col. John Siegfried on Memorial Day 
(1914) and the issuing of the brochure 
"'The Life and Times of Col. John 
Siegfried" attracted considerable atten- 
tion, both locally and in historical cir- 
cles. This widespread interest has lead 
to the discovery of additional facts, 
»oth as to his life and ancestry. In the 



through Pennsylvania and adjoining 
colonies during the middle decades of 
the Eighteenth Century. 

Joseph, one of the sons of Johannes 
Siegfried, the father of Colonel John 
Siegfried, was married to Anna Maria 
Romig, a daughter of John Adam Ro- 
mig. He spent all his days on the 



language of the Theological Review j homestead, which he received from his 
"Col. Siegfried was more than a local father. His home, like that of his 
ligure". Because of his prominence, father, was a stopping place for the 
family kinship and local associations, Moravian missionaries and officials on 
The. 'Cement News believes that its their journeys through Maxatawny to 
readers will welcome any additional in- ! Tulpenhocken, Lebanon, Litiz, Lancas- 
formation that will throw light on his j ter, York, etc. Shortly before his death 
life and character, and, therefore, glad- | which occurred September 3, 1795, he 
lv adds to its former writings the fol- | was received into the fellowship of the 
lowing from the pen of Rev. J. B. j Moravian Brethren. The following 
Stoudt. * ; obituary appears on the Moravian Con- 
I gregational record at Emails : 

SIEGFRIED FAMILY "Joseph Siegfried of Maxatawny was 

Colonel John Siegfried was a grand- ; bor " February 2, 1727. His parents 
son of Johannes and Elisabeth Sieg- we '" e Johannes and Elizabeth Siegfried 
fried, who had settled in Oley prior to , and wcr f of Mennomte persuasion On 
November 14, mg. the date of birth l^. 3 rd > r 745, he entered into Holy 
of their daughter Catharine, who was I wedlock with Anna Maria Romig, 
born, according to the Moravian re- which state God blessed with 13 child- 
cords at Emails, in Olev Township. ' re " (ei * ht sons and five daughters, of 
Berks County, Pa. When "the territory I w . ,loni SIX sons _ and two daughters sur- 
north of the South Mountain or Oley \ V ™J and vv,th forty-eight grand- 
Hills was thrown open. Johannes Sieg- children, of whom seven are dead and 
fried crossed the hills and settled on a ! wlth three Rreat-grand-children living, 
large tract of land in Maxatawny town- His sainted parents already loved the 
ship, in a valley known as Siegfried's ; Saviour and the Brethren (Moravians) 
1 )ale. Their daughter Mary Elisabeth, j who in former years ' lodged in their 
who later married Johannes Rothermel J home. And he too was a good friend 
and located in Windsor Township, is I to the Brethren and loved our doctrine 
said to have been the. first white child 1 of Salvation in Jesus Christ. He truly 
born in the Maxatawny Valley. They j saw that as a sinner, his greatest need 
were of the Mention ite faith. Some .1 was to be cleansed of his sins by the 
time before his death. Johannes Sieg-; r Blood of Christ in Holy Baptism. He 
fried divided the plantation -between "his '! often felt a summons in his heart and 
two sons Joseph and John. Besides desired to be a sharer in this Grace, but 
these two sons he had six daughters : \ never brought it to a firm resolution. 
Catharine, wife of Frederick Romig: j He postponed it from time to time. 
Susan, wife of Daniel Levan. Mary i During his last illness, when in the 
Elisabeth, wife of John Rothermel: j previous year he suffered from a stroke, 
Magdalena, wife of Anthony Fischer: from which he never fully recovered, 
Anna, wife of Jacob Fischer, and Mar- i this hung more heavilv upon his heart: 
gareth, wife of Jacob Moss. Their j and he was at his earnest request and 
home was the stopping place for Mora- j desire cleansed of his sins b> the wash- 
vian Missionaries, who itinerated i ing of the holy baptism, by his bosom 



friend, Brother John Ettwein, who vis- 
ited him and hy Brother George Jung- 
man of Bethlehem in the presence of 
about thirty people from the neighbor- 
hood. At which time he shed many 
tears, and all who were present, were 
inwardly moved hy the holy feeling of 
the presence of God. 

At the beginning of the month he 
was seized with convulsions and on 
the 3rd of September, shortly before 10 
o'clock in the forenoon, he expired. He 
reached the age of 74 years. 6 months 
and a little over. On the 5th of Sep- 
tember 1795, at the noon hour, he was 
buried on the family burial ground in 
the presence of a large concourse of 
people. At which time George Miller 
preached the sermon on God's acre on 
the Text, Psalm 25-10, 'All the paths 
of the Lord are mercy and truth unto 
such as keep his covenant and his tes- 
timonies.' " 

To Joseph and Anna Maria Siegfried 
were horn ten children : r. Catharine. 
2. Magdalena was married to Abraham 
Levari. 3. Colonel John, born Novem- 
ber 27, 1745. 4. Joseph (1740-1825) in 
1792 purchased and settled' on a tract 
of land near Bath. He was the father 
of five children : Joseph, John, Peter. 
Mary and Catharine. 5. Henry (April 
17, 1752- August 9, 1822) resided in 
Maxatawnv. He and his wife were 
buried on the old family cemetery. 6. 
Jacob was born August 19, 1762, and 
died March 28, 1829. He was married 
to Dorothea Levari. Thev had issue : 
William, Samuel, Benjamin, Jonathan. 
George and several daughters. 7. Isaac 
was born September 14, 1763, and on 
January 9,- 1791, was married to Anna 
Maria Hochstrasser, a daughter of Ja- 
cob and Maria (Baumen) Hochstrasser 
of Ranssellaersville. Albany County. 
New York. This union was hissed with 
sixteen children, of whom the follow- 
ing reached majority: Joshua, Paul. 
Samuel Elisabeth. Catharine, Mrs. Rev. 
J. C. Becker and Solomon. 8. Abra- 
£• ha m was born in 1764. He removed 
with ITis brother Josenh from Maxa- 
tawnv to the vicinity of Bath. He was 
the father of five children : Abraham. 
Tsaac. Hen 1 — Jacob and Susanna. Q. 
Daniel was married to Magdalena 
Kline. 

To John Siegfried. Jr.. the brother 
of Joseph, Sr., and his good wife Cath- . 



arinc were born six children : John, Ja- 
cob, Peter, Elisabeth, Margaret and 
Susanna. He died in 1776 and was 
buried on the family burial ground. 



COLONEL JOHN SIEGFRIED. 

Colonel John Siegfried was born in 
Siegfried's Dale, Maxatawny township, 
Berks County, November 27, 1745. In 
1770 he removed to Allen township and 
conducted a ferry and tavern, the fa- 
vorable location of which brought him 
into conduct with many people and pre- 
pared the way for his popularity and 
fame. The family name of his wife is 
not definitely known, her christian name 
however is given in the will as Mary. 
There is a marriage of John Sitfriet 
(Siegfried) and Mary Levan for Aug. 
25, 1769, recorded in Volume II, page 
226, Penna. Archives, Second Series. 
This for a number of reasons, the writer 
believes is the marriage of our hero. 
And if this is correct, than Mrs. Sieg- 
fried came as a bride to Allen town- 
ship. It was the custom of our fore- 
fathers not to go, immediately after 
marriage, to housekeeping, but to wait 
until the following Spring. Daniel Le- 
van, of Maxatawnv, who died in 1777, 
mentions in his will among other child- 
ren a daughter Mary Siegfried. If the 
above conjecture is correct, then Mr. 
and Mrs. Siegfried were first cousins, 
a condition which frequently occurred 
during the colonial period in isolated 
communities, like the Maxatawnv settle- 
ment, where many of the families were 
of the same blood. Susan Siesf ried. 
a daughter of Johannes, the founder of 
the family, was married to Daniel Le- 
van, the father of Mary, the wife of 
Colonel John Siegfried. 



ROMIG FAMILY 

Anna Maria Siegfried, nee Romig, 
the wife of Joseph Siegfried was born 
in Ittlingen near Heibron in the Pala- 
tinate June 12, 1724, and came with her 
parents to the Colony oi Pennsylvania, 
landing at Philadelphia September 30, 
1732. Her parents were John Adam 
Romig and Agnes Marguerite Bern- 
hardt. They were married in the vear- 
1712 and resided at Ittlingen. John 
\dam Romig was the son of George 
Wendel Romich and his wife Margue- 
rite Herner, and was born at Rueden- 



stein, in the Palatinate, February 3, 
1689. He was baptized by the local 
Lutheran pastor, his parents both being 
Lutheran. 

To Mr. and Mrs. John Adam Romig 
were born rive sons and four daugh- 
ters, among whom, were: Frederick, 
born April, 1713 ; John Martin, Anna 
Maria, and Johii Henry, born February 
15, 1729^ Mrs. Romig died shortly af- 
ter their arrival in the colony, and in 
the following year (1723) Mr. Romig 
married Maria Ursula Warner, which 
union was blessed with two sons and 
three daughters, of whom the two sons 
and one daughter died in infancy. He 
was an elder in the Lutheran church, 
but came under Moravian influence in 
1758 and 1762 was received into the 
congregation in Lynn by Rev. Peter 
Boehler. He died July 11, 1768. and 
was buried on the Moravian God's Acre 
in Lynn. He was survived at the time 
of his death by three sons and six 
daughters, sixty-six grand-children and 
twelve great-grand-children. It is re- 
corded of him that, "he was kind to 
those in his employ, an honored and 
beloved father in the congregation and 
greatly respected in the neighboring 
townships." 

Elisabeth Siegfried, daughter of Jo- 
hannes Siegfried, the emigrant, and 
sister to Joseph Siegfried, the' father 
of Colonel John Siegfried, was born in 
Oley, November ijl, 17 19. ■ and on 
Christmas 1737 was married to Frede- 
rick Romig, a son of John Adam Ro- 
mig. He was born at Tttlingen. near 
Heilbron, April 24, 1713. They settled 
in Lynn township, where she was bap- 
tized by the Moravian pastor Philip 
Wuster, March 31, 1755, and 'admitted 
to the holy communion for the first 
time in 1764. He was received as a 
member of the Moravian Congregation 
at Emaus in 1764 and admitted to the 
holy communion for the first time in 
1766. They removed from Lynn to a 
farm in Macungie. where they passed 
the remainder of their days and where 
their ashes repose in a private ceme- 
tery. He died Julv 6. 178^. and she 
October 7, T793. At the time of her 
death Mrs. Romig was survived by one 
hundred and five errand-children and 
ten great-grand-children. They were 



the parents of twelve "children, six sons 
and six daughters. They were : Johan- 
nes, born February 26, 1738; Joseph, 
born March 27, 1740; Adam, born 
November 26, 1741 ; Elisabeth, born 
March 8, 1743; Susanna, born July 12, 
1745; Frederick, born July 22, 1747 ; 
Catherine, born October 18, 1748; Mag- 
dalena, born September 10, 1750, was 
married to Daniel Peter, of Oley. Hen- 
rich, born April 1752; Anna Maria, born 
May 31, 1754, was married to Samuel 
Blitz of Longswamp; Joseph, born 
April 15, 1756; Margaretha, born Feb- 
ruary 2S. 1759- 



LEVAN FAMILY. 

The founder of this large and hon- 
ored American family was Daniel Le- 
van and his wife, Marie Beau of Am- 
sterdam, Holland. The ancestorial home 
of this staunch Huguenot (French Re- 
formed) family was Picardy in France, 
whence he fled to Amsterdam, where 
they were members of the Huguenot 
Church. In 1715 four of their sons, 
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, set 
out for the land of William Penn, ' of 
whom the last named died at sea. Ab- 
raham settled in Oley, Isaac in Exter, 
and Jacob in Maxatawny- township, 
Berks County. The latter was a promi- 
nent figure in the colonial period. He 
took a prominent part in the French 
and Indian war, served as one of the 
judges of the county.' and his son. Col- 
onel Sebastian Levan played an impor- 
tant role in the struggle for indepen- 
dence. . 

In 1729 Daniel Levan followed his 
brethren to the new world and settled 
in Maxatawny not far from his brother 
Jacob and married Susan Seigfried, a 
daughter of Johannes Siegfried. He 
was an elder in the Maxatawny. "Re- 
formed Congregation in 1740 and gave 
land for a church and school-house. He 
died in 1777, leaving a wife, Susan, nee 
Siegfried, and children : Peter, Barba- 
ra (Reeser), Catharine'. Mary (Sieg- 
fried). Susan (Kempp), Magdalena. 
Margaret and Daniel. The latter was 
admitted to the bar at Reading in 1768 
and obtained considerable prominence 
as an attorney. 



